BA has now ordered a correction for the 6ft plaque, which is the last thing passengers see as they step onto the �20m London Eye.

I hope this is not an indicator of how we regard good poetry these days

Poet Laureate Andrew Motion

But the Poet Laureate said: "I hope this is not an indicator of how we regard good poetry these days, but I must say I'm not entirely surprised."

What should read: "The river that glideth at his own sweet will: Dear God! the very houses seem asleep", has turned into "The river glideth at his own sweet asleep".

Wordsworth's words were partly recited by actress Joanna Lumley, when BA chairman Bob Ayling unveiled the plaque at a ceremony on 9 March.

"At the time the wheel was opened I did hear somebody quoting the poem wrongly, but I thought it was just nerves on the day, " said Mr Motion.

He praised the choice of sonnet because of its appropriateness to the Westminster setting and the fact that it was quite well known - but added that BA "better put it right soon".

The Poet Laureate is not amused

British Airways spokesman Kate Gay said: "Nobody knows quite how it happened. It was a mistake between the architects and the printers.

"In the excitement of the official opening we just didn't notice it, but obviously we want the poem to be correct."

The airline company might take a little comfort in the fact that the great poet himself was not particularly good at spelling.

The plaque's wooden backboard has been replaced and new steel lettering is now being cut to make the sonnet its full 14 lines.