Grenfell fire inquiry to be led by retired appeal court judge

The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster will be led by retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick.

The appointment of Sir Martin, who was a commercial lawyer before becoming a judge, was officially confirmed on Thursday morning.

At least 80 people are now believed to have died after the west London tower block caught fire, most of them from just 23 of the 129 flats in the building.

Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack said on Wednesday that contact had been made with at least one occupant of the 106 other flats. Eighteen people are dead or assumed dead from those properties.

However, it could be months before a final total of victims and their identities is confirmed.

About 10 flats have still not been searched because they are too dangerous.

Meanwhile, a criminal investigation has identified 60 organisations which were involved in the tower's refurbishment, during which the flammable cladding was added.

Prime Minister Theresa May said a full judge-led inquiry was needed to ensure the fire was "properly investigated".