Arthritis drugs used on the NHS could prevent the fatal spread of breast cancer, research suggests.

Scientists believe the common medications could be re-purposed to help block cancer reaching bones.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, with 55,000 diagnoses a year, and 11,500 deaths – almost all from tumours that have spread to other parts of the body.

Research teams from the University of Manchester and the University of Sheffield discovered that a protein released by bone marrow, called interleukin 1-beta encouraged breast cancer cells to form secondary tumours once they reach the bone.

Tests found that this molecule can be blocked by the drug anakinra, already used to treat arthritis.