A mother-of-three has said her "life is gone" after a major fire which broke out during the scorching heatwave earlier this week destroyed her house and all of her belongings.
While Ireland hit 33C in Dublin, the UK suffered in even worse conditions, with temperatures in London reaching a record-breaking high of 40C at times.
It caused numerous fires, the most noteworthy in London, where hundreds of firefighters tackled fires across the city, including in Wennington, where a grass fire spread to properties.
One of the residents lost everything apart from her grandfather's ashes, some photos, and clothes.
Claire Taylor told Sky News: "It's devastating. We lost my nan and grandad a few years ago. We had things that they had left us.
"Things they bought the boys that we've had for years. We had teddy bears that the children have had since they were born that they were really attached to and toys they were really attached to.
"It's just horrible. It's all your day-to-day stuff. It's all your paperwork. It's all your passports. Your life is gone in an instant. And that's what everyone is going through."
Ms Taylor, who works in a charity shop, said residents who had lost their homes were still in shock but "trying to muddle through".
She added: "My job is more important to try and help other people. I can look at the house after. Right now, we need to focus on everyone who has been caught up in this situation - both Wennington and Dagenham - and get them as much help.
"This is the start of the school summer holidays.
"We can rebuild, carry on, that's all you can do. Keep going and come back stronger."
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