CONDOLENCES have been sent to citizens of Christchurch, New Zealand following the devastating earthquake that hit the city on Tuesday lunchtime.

The 6.3-magnitude quake – believed to be an aftershock from last year’s earthquake – caused widespread devastation and injury, with the death toll currently 65 and rising.

The city is twinned with the borough of Christchurch and members of the local twinning association including chairman Howard Piper and his wife Sheila, are currently on an official twinning visit to the country.

The party landed in Auckland on the North Island yesterday, and were due to visit Christchurch on March 10 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the twinning link.

Mayor of Christchurch Cllr Nick Geary has sent his ‘heartfelt condolences’ to his counterpart in New Zealand, Bob Parker.

He said: “I was devastated to hear of the loss of life, especially as they were getting back to normal following the last earthquake in September.

“We are so far away that we feel a little helpless with regard to what we can do, but we are offering any support we can usefully give and they will stay in our prayers.”

A state of emergency has been declared in the city with reports of people being trapped in collapsed buildings and major damage caused to the city centre Cathedral.

Former Mayor and twinning association member Cllr David Flagg visited New Zealand during his mayoral year in 2009.

“It’s just devastating to see the damage to the cathedral because when we went there I was given the honour of reading part of a mass”, he said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody affected by the disaster.”

Diane Hegarty, secretary of Christchurch Twinning Association said the twinning link had been very successful over the years with the first visit led by former Daily Echo reporter and twinning association chairman Robin Thompkins in 1988.

Although official twinning was not established until 1975, informal links had taken place before then.

Books of condolence and collection tins have been set up at the Civic Offices in Bridge Street, Christchurch Tourist Information Centre, The Priory and Highcliffe Castle from today.