Robin de Peyer30 June 2015
An area the size of a football pitch was destroyed in a grass fire as London basked in the hottest day of the year so far.
More than 20 firefighters battled the blaze in Ilford this afternoon but they could not prevent around a hectare of grass and shrubs being burnt.
The London Fire Brigade said the area near Roding Lane South which was destroyed was "slightly larger than an international football pitch".
They attended the scene after being called by a member of the public who saw smoke rising from the field at around 2.10pm.
The fire was under control just over an hour later and its cause is under investigation.
