Cladding used on Grenfell Tower is banned in Britain, Europe and the USA

A criminal investigation and public inquiry into the fatal blaze, in which at least 58 people are feared to have died, will examine whether building regulations had been breached at the tower block in west London, Philip Hammond said.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "My understanding is the cladding in question, this flammable cladding which is banned in Europe and the US, is also banned here."

Senior civil servants have been called in to deal with the aftermath of the tragedy amid criticism of the way the crisis has been handled by Kensington and Chelsea council.

Volunteer Nisha Parti claimed survivors are being given just £10 a day to live on by the council and are unable to access the huge donations pledged by members of the public.

She told ITV's Peston on Sunday: "There is money pouring in from all these amazing volunteers, we can't get access to the money and we cannot get it to the families."

Father's Day cards were among the tributes left close to the charred remains of the tower on Sunday, while firefighters leaving the scene were greeted by cheers and applause from the local community.

Sadiq Khan attended a local church service to remember those who lost their lives or remain missing after suggesting high-rise tower blocks dating from the 1960s and 1970s could be torn down in the wake of the deadly fire.

Writing in the Observer, the London mayor said it may well be the "defining outcome of this tragedy that the worst mistakes" of that era become a thing of the past.

Tottenham MP David Lammy called on Prime Minister Theresa May and the Metropolitan Police to immediately seize all relevant Grenfell Tower