Live updates: Italy mourns earthquake victims

A state funeral has been held for victims of a powerful earthquake that hit Italy on Wednesday as the country held a day of national mourning for all those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

Despite suffering their own injuries crowds of people gathered to pay their respects and show support for each other in the midst of the ongoing national emergency.

ITV News Correspondent Emma Murphy reports.

The number of people killed in Italy's earthquake has risen to 290 as the country holds a national day of mourning.

A state funeral attended by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has been held in the city of Ascoli Piceno for 35 of the victims.

Search and rescue operations are continuing but have been hampered by hundreds of aftershocks since the 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck on Wednesday.

Italians are paying their respects to the victims of Wednesday's powerful earthquake on a day of national mourning.

At least 281 people died and around 400 remain injured in hospital after the 6.2-magnitude earthquake caused hundreds of buildings to collapse.

Search and rescue operations are continuing but have been hampered by hundreds of aftershocks.

President Sergio Mattarella has visited Amatrice, one of the worst-affected towns, where the majority of the casualties occurred.

A state of emergency has been declared in the affected towns.

A day of national mourning has begun in Italy for at least 281 people who died after a devastating earthquake on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is also due to attend state funerals for around 40 victims in the nearby city of Ascoli Piceno.

Almost 400 remain injured in hospital after the 6.2-magnitude earthquake caused hundreds of buildings to collapse.

Search and rescue operations have been hampered by hundreds of aftershocks since the quake hit mountainous regions in central Italy.

A state of emergency has been declared in the affected towns.

• Tributes to three Brits killed in Italy earthquake

Rescue workers in Italy have acknowledged that they may not find any more survivors from Italy's earthquake on Wednesday, as powerful aftershocks damaged the vital access roads to the town.

The death toll from the devastating earthquake has now hit 281.

Tributes have poured in for three Britons who were killed by an earthquake which devastated central Italy.

Marcos Burnett, 14, and Maria and Will Henniker-Gotley, aged 51 and 55, were killed when the 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck on Wednesday, destroying the building they were sleeping in.

ITV News Correspondent Emma Murphy reports:

The Queen has given a personal donation to help the search and rescue operation in Italy in the wake of a huge earthquake which killed at least 267 and left hundreds more badly hurt.

Buckingham Palace said the unspecified amount was given to the British Red Cross, of which she is patron.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have previously said they were "saddened to hear of the loss of life" and sent their "thoughts and prayers" to the "people of Italy, especially the family and friends of those affected".

The damage by ongoing aftershocks from a major earthquake in Italy is threatening to cut off the town of Amatrice, the local mayor has warned.

More than 900 aftershocks have been registered since the initial 6.2-magnitude quake struck in the early hours of Wednesday morning, causing more buildings to collapse and hampering search and rescue operations.

Two roads leading to Amatrice have also been badly damaged, putting the town at risk of being isolated from the rest of the region.