Tributes are being paid to the three Britons, including one newly-wed man from Dartford, among the dead after a Ukranian plane crashed moments after take-off.

The passenger flight bound for the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, crashed after taking off from the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.

Local officials are blaming an engine fire for the disaster, and Iran's Red Crescent said there was no chance of finding survivors.

Among those killed was 35-year-old Saeed Tahmabessi Khademsadi, a chartered engineer who was completing a PhD at Imperial College in London and working as a principal engineer at Laing O'Rouke.

News Shopper: Undated handout photo issued by Imperial College London of Saeed Tahmasebi KhademasadiUndated handout photo issued by Imperial College London of Saeed Tahmasebi Khademasadi

Mr Tahmasebi had just married his wife Niloofar Ebrahim in London in December before travelling back to Iran for a second marriage ceremony in their native country.

A spokesman for Imperial College London where their 35-year-old colleague - who preferred to be known as Mr Tahmasebi - was a post-graduate researcher, said: "We are deeply saddened at this tragic news.

"Saeed Tahmasebi Khademasadi was a brilliant engineer with a bright future.

"His contributions to systems engineering earned respect from everyone who dealt with him and will benefit society for years to come.

"He was a warm, humble and generous colleague and close friend to many in our community.

"Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with Saeed's family, friends and colleagues, as well as all those affected by this tragedy."

The names of the passengers appeared on an unofficial passenger list posted on Facebook by a Ukranian blogger, including three people travelling on British passports, and their identities have now been confirmed.

Victims included engineer Sam Zokaei, from Surrey and Mohammad Reza Kadkhoda Zadeh, from near Brighton, and nine members of crew and at least 26 children were also on board.

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The crash comes amid escalating tension in the Persian Gulf following the killing last week of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by the US, prompting several airlines to reroute flights away from Tehran's airspace.

Qassem Biniaz, a spokesman for Iran's Road and Transportation Ministry, said it appears a fire had started in one of the plane's engines.

The pilot then lost control of the plane, sending it crashing into the ground, Mr Biniaz said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Some 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 people from the Ukraine, nine of whom were crew members, 10 Swedes, four Afghans and three Germans were on board the flight along with three Britons, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said.

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had ordered the Prosecutor General of Ukraine to open criminal proceedings.