A pioneering prostate treatment which means tens of thousands of men could be spared major surgery has been given the green light.

NHS watchdogs have approved the new technique to treat one of the most common medical complaints facing older men.

Around half of men over the age of 50 suffer from an enlarged prostate, which can reduce bladder capacity, causing repeated night-time trips to the lavatory.

Mild symptoms can be controlled by drugs, but they can cause side-effects such as loss of libido.

Every year, around 45,000 men undergo surgery to treat an enlarged prostate.

But this requires a general anaesthetic, several days in hospital and can damage sexual function and fertility.