Lord Jeffrey Sterling, who bankrolled the royal barge Gloriana, has been invited to visit the boat's prospective new home in Brentford.

The invitation was this afternoon extended by Suzie Betlem, president of Brentford Chamber of Commerce, which is leading the campaign to bring the vessel to the neighbourhood.

Lord Sterling this morning said he and the Gloriana team were looking for alternative venues along the Thames after plans for a permanent mooring in Twickenham were rejected by locals.

Ms Betlem said: "The Gloriana was built and launched in Brentford and as such it is her natural resting place.

"The chamber will be inviting Lord Sterling and the Gloriana team to Brentford to visit potential sites and to show them what a fantastic town it is and will become, and how much the Gloriana will mean to local businesses and residents alike to have the beautiful Gloriana located there.

"The Gloriana will bring much needed tourism to the area, thus increasing footfall for the High Street and local restaurants."

Gloriana, which led the Queen's Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012, was built in Brentford and launched just upstream in Isleworth.

Brentford and Isleworth MP Mary Macleod today promised to write to Lord Sterling making the case for Brentford to house Gloriana, while Hounslow Council leader Steve Curran said the borough would be 'more than happy' to host the boat.