Eating too many highly-processed foods could significantly increase the risk of cancer, a major study suggests.

The research on more than 100,000 adults found that every 10 per cent increase in consumption of ready meals, sugary cereals and salty snacks is linked to a 12 per cent rise in cancer risks.

Such foods now make up more than half the British diet, on average, separate data shows - the highest proportion across European nations.

The study warned that the “rapidly increasing” consumption of heavily processed foods seen in recent years could drive an increasing burden of cancer in coming decades.

Scientists raised fears that the additives used to produce such foods could increase the risk of cancer. They urged consumers to try to eat more fresh or minimally processed foods as a “precautionary” principle.

However, the research was observational - meaning it could not demonstrate whether it was the type of food itself that caused the increased risk of cancer.

Experts said those eating a diet heavy in convenience foods, and other “ultraprocessed” snacks such as fizzy drinks and crisps were also far more likely to be overweight - which is already known to increase the risk of at least 11 types of cancer.