Italian engineers have successfully re-floated the Costa Concordia cruise ship which ran aground off the Tuscan coast in 2012.

Following a delay for poor weather, the ship was detached from rocks and moved on to a platform constructed on the sea bed.

Thirty-two people died when the cruise ship ran aground off the Tuscan coast.

Two bodies are yet to be recovered, with hopes they may be discovered during the latest phase of the operation to remove the ship.

The Italian Civil Protection Authority said only after the 114,000 tonne vessel - which capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio in January 2012 - is back up on her keel will it be possible to inspect it fully and begin to plan how to repair and re-float it.

The ship will eventually be towed away to be destroyed.

Five people have already been convicted of manslaughter over the disaster, and the ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, is currently on trial accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship.