London’s fire commissioner, Dany Cotton, is to step down at the end of this month instead of April next year, London Fire Brigade (LFB) has announced.

The news follows criticism of Ms Cotton from the relatives of people who died in the Grenfell Tower fire.

The first report from the official inquiry said LFB’s preparation for a tower block fire was “gravely inadequate”, adding that its lack of an evacuation plan was a “major omission”.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said Ms Cotton’s “decision is the right one”, thanking her for her “32 years of service”.

Grenfell United, a group for bereaved families and survivors, said a change in leadership was “needed to keep Londoners safe”.

It added: “Sir Martin Moore-Bick raised serious concerns that the London Fire Brigade was an institution at risk of not learning the lessons of Grenfell.

“The phase one report has important recommendations for the LFB. The incoming commissioner must ensure that they move swiftly to ensure those recommendations are implemented.”

Ms Cotton, who underwent therapy and suffered traumatic memory loss after the Grenfell tragedy, has said the “utter devastation” of the blaze will never leave her.

She has said it resembled a “disaster movie”.

The 50-year-old said she felt “honoured to have served London” and would do all she could to “assist the safe transition of my responsibilities to the new London Fire Commissioner”.

She became LFB’s first female Commissioner in 2017, immediately encouraging more women to sign up.

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