SOUTHAMPTON'S legendary liner Queen Elizabeth 2 failed an inspection by US health regulators, who found cockroaches in the galley, mould residue on ice makers and blocked air conditioning drains in the nursery.

Cunard Line officials said there were no unusual circumstances that explain the inspection failure on its flagship, the world's most famous ship.

Pam Conover, Cunard's president said: "It is unacceptable from our point of view.''

Worn or malfunctioning equipment cited in the inspection report was being replaced, she said, adding that work was carried out straight away to remedy the faults.

The discovery was made when the ship docked at Port Everglades two weeks ago on the first leg of her annual world cruise, despite greater sanitary precautions taken throughout the industry because of a recent spate in gastrointestinal illnesses on a number of cruise ships in the Caribbean.

Susan McClure, a spokesman for the US's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said: "There have been cases of stomach illness on the ship recently, but those reports have been below two per cent of total passengers and crew, the threshold to be considered an outbreak''

QE2 left Fort Lauderdale last week on Tuesday, January 7 and is expected to dock next on Saturday in Los Angeles, where it could be re-inspected.

Inspectors gave QE2 a grade of 85 after touring the ship on January 3.

Ships are graded on a scale of one to 100 and grades below 86 are unsatisfactory.

Health authorities rarely, if ever, block a ship from sailing after a failed inspection.

Ms McClure said ships can get a "no sail recommendation'' if there is a drastic problem, such as a

broken refrigerator or water chlorinating system, but that was not the case with QE2.

QE2 previously failed inspection at Port Everglades two years ago when it scored 79, and again in April 1997, when it scored 80.

Cunard, owned by Miami-based Carnival Corporation, plans to take QE2 out of transatlantic service next year when Queen Mary 2 arrives in service.