Firefighters have been tackling a large fire in east London which broke out in the early hours of the morning.

Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters were called to the blaze at a waste facility on Chequers Lane in Dagenham.

Plumes of smoke could be seen billowing into the sky and local residents have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed.

In an update on Sunday, London Fire Brigade said the fire has been brought under control. But, firefighters remained at the scene throughout the morning to dampen down the area and tackle any remaining small fires.

It comes as London is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the year, with temperatures expected to rise to 33C by Thursday.

A UKHSA yellow weather warning for heat has been issued for London and other parts of England. The alert remains in place until 9pm on August 11.

Two of the London Fire Brigade's turntable ladders have been mobilised to the incident in Dagenham.

A Hose Laying Unit and High Volume Pump have also been sent to the scene in order to increase access to the water supply.

Speaking at the scene, Station Commander Graham Beers said: "This is a large incident that will see crews working hard through the morning to bring it under control.

“Residents in the nearby area should keep doors and windows closed where possible. The fire is producing a significant amount of smoke."

The Brigade was first called about the fire at 0326, and crews from Dagenham, Barking, East Ham and surrounding fire stations have been mobilised to the scene.

The fire was brought under control at 0743.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The risk of wildfires in London is currently very high amid the prolonged period of extreme heat.

Drought conditions combined with temperatures of 33C mean that any fire that ignites is difficult to extinguish and can spread rapidly.

At least 600 separate grass and wildfire incidents have been tackled by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) so far this year.

Over just a single weekend in early August, firefighters attended 423 grass fires across the capital.