Scientists have found a drug which they say prolongs the life expectancy of those with thyroid cancer.

Research suggests patients who take Vandetanib  can survive for almost twice as long as other sufferers.

The number of people diagnosed with the cancer worldwide has doubled in the last 10 years.

The findings were published in The Lancet Oncology.

They are the first to show clear evidence of what is known as ‘prolonged progression-free survival’ for a disease which has no effective treatment.