More than 40,000 men will be recruited into prostate cancer research, in a Government bid to turn the major killer into “a disease which no longer brings fear.”

The £75m plans announced by Theresa May will see thousands of men offered the chance to try new treatments far earlier, while testing new ways to diagnose the disease.

The Prime Minister said too many people were enduring the loss of a loved one because they were diagnosed too late, with prostate cancer now causing more deaths than breast cancer.

She also confirmed plans to set announce a fully funded long-term plan for the NHS later this year, saying the strategy would be developed with health sevice leaders.

Ahead of a visit to NHS staff in Cambridgeshire, Mrs May said: “Too many people endure the loss of a loved one because cancer diagnosis comes too late in the day.