Lightning strikes could be spotted across London during the early hours The storm as seen in Hornchurch, east London Intense rainstorms and lightning strikes overnight in some parts of London have caused significant flooding and at least two house fires.

Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London have been confirmed by the national inquiry into grooming gangs as the first locations selected for local investigation. More areas will be confirmed soon as the inquiry sets out its phases of investigation.