A warning has been issued to pet owners and mariners as a firework display is set to see off a Cunard cruise leaving Southampton tonight.

Just before Queen Victoria leaves QEII Cruise Terminal to embark on a 78-day South America expedition, fireworks will be set off from a nearby barge at 5.15pm.

The display is expected to last approximately 10 minutes and mariners have been asked to maintain a 200-metre exclusion zone around the barge at all times.

READ MORE: P&O's Arcadia and Aurora to leave Southampton with fireworks

Queen Victoria will head to Florida in the USA, Brazil, Argentina and more before arriving back in Southampton on March 28.

It is not the only Cunard cruise to leave the city tonight, as Queen Anne is expected to sail away from Ocean Cruise Terminal at 9pm.

Two other ships have set off fireworks when leaving Southampton over the last week - Arcadia on January 3 and Aurora on January 6.