A study of more than 170,000 volunteers aged between 55 and 64 suggested that the examination of the lower colon and rectum reduced deaths by 43 per cent. The test, which involves the quick removal of growths with the potential to turn cancerous, is seen as a strategy that could transform prevention and early detection of the disease. In the study group examined, incidence of bowel cancer fell by a third.

Scientists said yesterday that the research, published on The Lancet website, made the national introduction of the one-off test for all men and women at the age of 55 a “no brainer”.

A quarter of the volunteers in the 16-year study underwent a sigmoidoscopy, where a camera mounted on a thin, flexible tube known as a Flexi-Scope was inserted about a third of the way into the bowel. Most bowel cancers stem from polyps or symptomless growths in the rectum and colon and where these were found they were removed in a safe and pain-free procedure, the researchers said.

Bowel polyps are not malignant – but patients may need to have them removed then undergo regular check-ups.

A team of US scientists reported in the journal Nature that their drug – so far tested on mice – could persuade the growths to disappear.

However, one specialist said it was too early to say if the cocktail was safe.

Many research teams are looking for effective ways to suppress or prevent polyps from forming among the healthy cells which line the colon.

These are a particular problem for people with a condition called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), which increases the risk of both polyps and the cancers linked to them.

This can mean frequent colonoscopy checks, in which a camera is inserted into the lower bowel, to make sure new polyps or cancers are not present.