Prince Charles: 'Deepest sympathy' for New Zealand

Prince Charles has offered his "deepest possible sympathy" to those mourning the loss of 29 miners in New Zealand, after a second explosion at the Pike River Mine.

He said he wanted to make known "just how deeply so many of us feel here in Britain" for the families of the men declared dead in the incident.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says the nation is in mourning, while head of state Queen Elizabeth said she was deeply saddened by the disaster.