UK mourns victims of Grenfell fire tragedy

May told parliament on Wednesday that the "unimaginable tragedy remains at the forefront of our minds".

In an interview with Grenfell Speaks, a social media news channel, she admitted that the immediate official response to the fire "wasn't good enough... from the beginning".

"I don't know why it took so long," she said.

The local community is still traumatised by the tragedy.

"I thought time would've healed us but time hasn't done anything," said Chris Imafidon, 50, who knew six different families bereaved by the blaze through a local education charity he works for.

"This is reviving the memories of that night, because we're all out on the street again - I see the same faces," he added, surveying the other locals who had turned out in remembrance. 

Among the attendees were former tower residents Marcio and Andreia Gomes, whose son was stillborn hours after the fire, and local firefighters who responded that night.

On a row of tables in the street, more than 100 community members shared a meal of Mediterranean food - dubbed an iftar for Muslim residents breaking their fasts during Ramadan. 

The crowd cheered wildly when a London Underground train passing on tracks above stopped and sounded its horn, before the driver emerged from his cabin to unfurl a green flag.

The commemorations will continue on Thursday with church services, special prayers at a local mosque, wreath-laying and the unveiling of a community mosaic.

A silent walk will also be held - similar to the ones that take place on the 14th of every month - while banners in memory of the victims have been unfurled over the top four floors of the tower.

Neglected 

The fire started through a faulty fridge in the kitchen of a fourth-floor flat in the 24-storey tower.

Relatives of those who died have recently provided heart-rending testimony about their loved ones' final moments at the beginning of a public inquiry into the fire, reminding Britons of the shocking scale of the tragedy.

Stephanie Seddon, 24, a health outreach worker who has been on the ground since last June, said "lots of people are showing signs and symptoms of PTSD", referring to post-traumatic stress disorder.

"We're here to support the community," she added.

Despite the support, residents argue the wealthy borough's authorities have neglected the less affluent northern section home to Grenfell and surrounding public housing.

They also blame the fire's spread on cladding installed during a recent refurbishment, while the fire service has come under the spotlight over its advice for residents to stay put.

A survey released Wednesday by ITV found 98% of relatives and survivors worried the policy remains, while 87 percent have no faith in the government.

But at the remembrance events, the overriding sentiment was solidarity.

"We're trying to see how we can heal together," said Imafidon. "It's difficult."