Astronomers say they have found a nearby planet that is similar to Earth in location and size.

It is the type of planet they have been searching for across the Milky Way galaxy and was found circling a star 'right next door' - 25tn miles (40tn kilometres) away in the Alpha Centauri B star system. But the Earth-like planet is so hot, its surface may be like molten lava.

The team of European astronomers who found it say it is likely there are other planets circling the same star, and that those planets could orbit in the not-too-hot, not-too-cold region around the star that astronomers sometimes call the Goldilocks zone.

The research was released online in the journal Nature on Tuesday.