Cladding used on Grenfell Tower, which may have been a factor in spreading the blaze, is banned in Britain, the Chancellor has said.

Philip Hammond told BBC One'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.

Mr Hammond said a criminal investigation would examine whether building regulations had been breached when the block was overhauled.

"There are two separate questions. One, are our regulations correct, do they permit the right kind of materials and ban the wrong kind of materials? The second question is were they correctly complied with?

Mr Hammond said the public inquiry set up by the Government following the tragedy would also examine if rules had been broken.

"That will be a subject that the inquiry will look at. It will also be a subject that the criminal investigation will be looking at."

Harley Facades Limited, the company that was subcontracted to clad the tower block's exterior, but did not manufacture it, said the Chancellor's comments were "frivolous and ill-informed".

ITV News Business Editor Joel Hills tweeted:

At least 58 people are "missing and presumed dead" following the fire at Grenfell Tower, police have confirmed.