Search after London fire may take months

Searching a London tower block which was gutted in a huge fire might take months, a police chief says, adding he hopes the death toll will not rise from 17 to "triple figures".

Commander Stuart Cundy told reporters on Thursday some victims of the blaze which destroyed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower might never be identified.

Police have said 17 people were killed in the blaze which began on Wednesday morning and the death toll is likely to rise.

Asked if the final figure would be double or triple digits, Cundy said: "I'd like to hope that it isn't going to be triple figures."