Mankind has a “50/50” chance of finding evidence of life on Mars within the next three years, scientists working on the upcoming rover mission predict.

The British-led team currently conducting trials for the new ExoMars robot said plans to excavate deep below the Martian surface for the first time dramatically improve the odds of discovering past or present extraterrestrial life.

Previous rover missions have mainly analysed surface rocks and topsoil.

However, scientists believe the red planet’s thin atmosphere and corresponding intense radiation mean all but deeply hidden evidence of life will have been eradicated.

By contrast, the new European Space Agency (ESA) craft, due to launch in 2020 and arrive the following year, will be fitted with a two-metre drill.