Passengers on the vessel were three miles from the fireworks

QE2 Passengers who paid thousands for a grandstand view of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations are seeking legal action after ending up miles from the action.

They said they had been promised the ship would be "at the heart and soul" of the party on 28 June, but found themselves three miles away.

Solicitor Simon Taylor said passengers who had paid about �1,500 each felt their trip had been "mis-sold".

Cunard told BBC News the vast majority of passengers enjoyed the trip.

We were told we could watch the enactment of the Battle of Trafalgar via TV screens on-board. We could have done that at home and at far less expense Trevor Towill

During the mini-cruise about 700 signatures were collected by passengers and handed to the captain when they found out where the vessel would be anchored.

At the time, Cunard said the captain had decided to drop anchor in deep water.

Trevor Towill, of the Isle of Wight, who paid �2,300 for the four-day trip, said: "The brochure said that we would be at the heart and soul of the celebrations.

"It said we would be anchored at Spithead, but we were very angry that we would be miles away.

Cunard regrets that some passengers were not entirely satisfied with the Trafalgar 200 cruise Cunard spokesman

"We could hardly see anything. The fireworks were way off in the distance and we didn't see the fly-by from the Red Arrows.

"Instead, we were told that we could watch the enactment of the Battle of Trafalgar via TV screens on-board. We could have done that at home and at far less expense."

'Trip mis-sold'

Solicitor Simon Taylor said: "Passengers have paid on average �1,500 per cabin to see the unique celebrations in their full glory as advertised in the brochure.

"Instead they barely saw the event at a distance and understandably feel that their trip was mis-sold," he said.

He said Cunard had offered passengers �150 of vouchers towards another cruise.

"Our clients are wholly unsatisfied with this offer and we will be advising them on the further steps which can be taken to obtain proper levels of compensation," he said.

A spokesman for Cunard told BBC News: "Cunard regrets that some passengers were not entirely satisfied with the Trafalgar 200 cruise.

"The vast majority of passengers enjoyed the trip and have written to Cunard, and to the press, to say that it was a truly wonderful experience.