New Zealand: Quake death toll rises to 113 with four Britons feared dead

British chef Gregory Tobin, 25, died when the quake struck Christchurch on South Island earlier this week.

The identity of the other British victim has not yet been confirmed.

Mr Tobin, from North Yorkshire, had been on a round the world trip and was believed to have been working temporarily at a local garage.

Friends have left tributes to him on Facebook. One read: "Such a nice guy and at such a young age."

Another read: "Sad times … I can't believe it."

The other Britons dead or feared killed have not been named.

Some 228 people are still missing after the 6.3-magnitude quake and hopes of pulling anyone else out of the rubble alive have diminished.

Officials said the death toll is likely to rise.

Hundreds of rescuers from across the globe, including a 55-strong search and rescue team drawn from the British emergency fire and rescue services, continue to scour Christchurch's shattered town centre district.

Civil Defence Minister John Carter said: "We are still hopeful that there still may be people rescued but it's getting less and less likely."

• New Zealand: Texts and calls from under the rubble to anguished parents

• Anxious wait

The Foreign Office is working with the local authorities, police and hospitals to get more information about the large number of British people living in the area.

The spokesman said: "We have a large consular team on the ground, including our High Commissioner to New Zealand, Vicki Treadell, who are providing full consular assistance to any British nationals that require it.

"The High Commission in Wellington has been reinforced with additional staff, and we stand ready to send further reinforcements from our posts in the region if required."

It is feared it could be a month before all the names of the dead have been released as the severity of the injuries sustained by the victims means DNA and fingerprints may have to be used to identify them. Up to 120 bodies are still believed to be inside the Canterbury Television building, which also housed an English language school.

There was a ray of light amid the grief yesterday, however, when a woman went ahead with her wedding just days after being pulled from the rubble of a building that collapsed during the earthquake.

Emma Howard was rescued on Tuesday from the wrackage of the Pyne Gould building after it collapsed during the earthquake.

While trapped inside, she contacted fianc Chris Greenslade using her mobile phone and he then directed rescuers to find her.The couple said that going ahead with the wedding yesterday was a sign that the disaster "could not break the spirit of people" in New Zealand's devastated second city.

Father John Adams, who conducted the couple's wedding ceremony at the Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, said: "We are affirming that the final victory will go to love, not to despair."