A major new prostate cancer screening trial is set to begin in the UK, supported by £42 million from the government and Prostate Cancer UK.

The trial will use innovative screening methods like an MRI scan to detect prostate cancer.

Thousands of men will take part in the trial, which is named TRANSFORM.

Currently there is no screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK, but it is the most common cancer in men. 12,000 men die of prostate cancer every year.

It is hoped new screening methods will be able to give more accurate results than current blood tests and identify the disease when there are no symptoms.

Health and social care secretary Victoria Atkins said: "Cancer survival rates continue to improve in the UK, with the disease being diagnosed at an earlier stage more often. But more must be done.

"Our hope is that this funding will help to save the lives of thousands more men through advanced screening methods that can catch prostate cancer as early as possible.

Laura Kerby, chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "12,000 men die of prostate cancer each year and it’s the most common cancer that doesn’t have a national screening programme.

"It’s about time that changed. That’s why we’re launching our biggest and most ambitious trial ever. It will finally give us the answers we need to develop a routine testing system and save thousands of men each year.

"Prostate Cancer UK’s unique focus and expertise made us the only organisation that could really deliver this paradigm-shifting trial, and we’re delighted that the government has backed our vision to revolutionise diagnosis."