Consuming foods rich in calcium such as milk and yoghurt significantly reduces the risk of developing bowel cancer, according to a new study.

A large UK study has found further evidence that people with more calcium in their diet - equivalent to a glass of milk a day - can help reduce their risk of bowel cancer. The researchers analysed the diets of more than half a million women over 16 years and found dark leafy greens,

The study, funded by Cancer Research UK, found that drinking a large glass of milk a day could help reduce the risk of bowel cancer by nearly a fifth. The research, which examined the effects of 97 dietary factors on bowel cancer risk, is the biggest of its kind, with 542,000 women involved over 16 years.