A universal cancer test which could pick up dozens of different diseases before they become deadly could be widely available within ten years.

Scientists from universities across Britain have trawled through 23,000 studies published over the past five years to compiled a list of 750 ‘biomarkers’ which indicate cancer is present in the body, even when there are no symptoms.

They hope to whittle down the number to around 50, and create a single blood test which could check for not only the most common diseases such as breast, lung and bowel cancer, but also rarer conditions.

It is hoped that such a test could spot cancer early, before it has spread, and when it can be cured quickly with surgery or drugs.