The British rescue team heading for the stricken Russian submarine, the Kursk, is at the disaster scene, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Alan Hoskins: Leading the British rescue effort

The rescue team is talking to their Russian counterparts about their next steps, though the Russians have announced they do not expect to find anyone alive on the submarine.

The Normand Pioneer - carrying the LR5 submersible - was two hours away from the site when Vice Admiral Mikhail Motsak stated that there was now virtually no hope of finding anyone alive.

But Commander Alan Hoskins, organising the British rescue team, said they were still ready to swing into action.

"We are still offering assistance to the Russians and not until the Russians tell us they don't want us to do anything would we stop," he said.

"We will proceed if it is safe to do so."

But there were still some issues to be resolved, he said.

We are here to do a job so let us get on and do it

Commander Alan Hoskins

"We are still waiting to conduct our first meeting with the Russian officials and experts so that we can try to resolve some of the questions we've got and make sure we are prepared for every eventuality," Commander Hoskins told the BBC.

There was a sense of "nervous anticipation" as they approached, he added.

"The mood is subdued because we are so close. There is a quiet air of determination.

"We are here to do a job so let us get on and do it," he said.

No word from Russia

The MoD spokesman also confirmed that they had not been contacted by the Russians about calling off the mission.

"Unless we get absolutely compelling evidence that there is no point in continuing, the mission will stay on track as it is at the moment," he said.

Nevertheless, officials acknowledged that any rescue attempt could prove hazardous for the LR5 team and that they would have to review the situation if there really was no hope of finding any survivors.

"Obviously an assessment will be made," the spokesman said.

The Normand Pioneer is expected to send down a remote-controlled, unmanned probe to carry out a photographic reconnaissance before launching the LR5.