“Artificial” human ovaries have been created for the first time in a breakthrough that promises hope for infertile women.

Scientists successfully grafted follicles, the precursors to eggs, onto a biological “scaffold” which then grew normally.

The development, which could be available within three years, means women with malfunctioning ovaries can look forward to getting pregnant naturally.

Currently their best option is to freeze their eggs before problems in the ovary start and then undergo potentially gruelling IVF.

The technique will be of particular benefit to female cancer sufferers whose fertility is often destroyed by radio and chemotherapy, as well as patients with multiple sclerosis and certain blood disorders.

Medics already know how to remove, cryo-preserve and then re-implant ovary tissue once harsh treatment is complete.

However, the take-up rate is very low - there have been around 100 resulting births worldwide - because of the risk the procedure will re-introduce cancer into the body.