Almost half of people mistakenly believe that stress causes cancer, Cancer Research UK has warned.

The charity warned that “fake news” on the internet appears to be fuelling a rise in incorrect beliefs about the causes of the disease.

Their polling found that stress, food additives, eating GM foods, and using mobile phones and microwave ovens were among the most popular “mythical” causes of cancer.

The charity said the beliefs were held despite a lack of good scientific evidence linking them to the disease.

Meanwhile, the survey found poor awareness of known cancer risk factors such as obesity, eating red or processed meat or drinking alcohol, its experts warned.