Canisters of red smoke to greet the world-famous vessel will be launched into the river from a boat owned by Tyne and Wear Marine.

The boat – based at the firm's HQ at East Side, Tyne Dock – will be part of a flotilla of small craft leading the Queen Elizabeth 2 down the river.

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Company director Jeff Main said: "One of our boats, the TWM Reclaim, will meet the QE2 at the piers on Sunday afternoon.

"A specialist pyrotechnics team will be on board to launch canisters, which will release red smoke when they hit the water.

"We have also chartered another boat, which will carry specialists organising a special sound demonstration, like a series of air raid sirens going off, to greet the QE2.

"A full complement of between 15 and 20 of our staff will accompany the QE2 before she is turned around in the river by the main tugs."

Mr Main, 54, who launched his boat company 20 years ago, has been preparing for the big arrival for several weeks.

He added: "After the QE2 leaves, our boats will be involved in the clean-up operation, including picking up any ships' waste after the celebrations."

The Cunard liner is due to enter the piers between 4.30pm and 5pm on Sunday, before heading to Jarrow to turn, then berthing at Tyne Commission Quay, which will be renamed the Northumbrian Quay during a ceremony on Sunday.

A major two-day maritime celebration will be staged to mark the QE2's first visit to North East England.

Celebrations at the mouth of the Tyne on Sunday will include music and a pyrotechnic display.

Northumbrian piper Andy May will join forces with French musicians Mecanique Vivante to give the celebrations an international flavour.

The event will also see a cast of 600 schoolchildren from North and South Tyneside taking part in a mass choreographed performance by Dodgy Clutch theatre company along the banks of the Tyne.