Diane and David Atkins called their daughter Lisa Staples after being airlifted from the country's earthquake-hit Sichuan province last night. They are safely back at their hotel in Chengdu.

The retired couple, of Portchester, were among 19 British tourists feared dead in the aftermath of the natural disaster which devastated Sichuan province.

Mrs Staples, 39, of Tangier Road, Copnor, got a call from her mother at about 4.20am to say: 'We're safe. We have been airlifted out – I don't know where. I will phone as soon as I can.'

The couple's relieved daughter said: 'She said, "I love you." I'm so happy. I didn't speak to my dad but she said he is safe. I don't know anything else but at least I know they are alive.'

Retired postmaster Mr Atkins, 63, and his 62-year-old wife were among a coach party of 19 British tourists reported missing in the aftermath of the disaster which devastated Sichuan province on Monday.

The couple were travelling by coach from the provincial capital, Chengdu, to Wo Long Nature Reserve in Wenchuan county – the area worst hit when the quake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, hit on Monday.

Mrs Staples had not heard from her parents since May 4 when they left Heathrow for a two-week tour of China.

Mrs Staples' children, Chloe, 15, Courtney, 12, and Charlie, nine, and her husband, Julian, 41, were with her when the phone call came.

The family had spent hours trying to trace her parents – posting messages on the internet and contacting the British Embassy, travel firm Kuoni and the hotel where they were meant to be staying. The Foreign Office confirmed today that the coach party had been located and all the tourists were safe.

Yesterday officials started to airlift aid to the areas worst hit by the earthquake.

Official figures put the death toll at nearly 15,000 with 26,000 still buried in rubble and 14,000 missing.

However the government has admitted more than 50,000 people may have died.

Also see: Couple missing in China earthquake