A Bradford district hospital is to take part in a major trial testing whether aspirin can help prevent an increasingly common cancer.

Airedale General Hospital, near Steeton, is one of 100 centres across the country taking part in the study funded by Cancer Research UK.

It is aiming to prevent a pre-cancerous condition which causes heartburn and can increase the chances of developing cancer of the foodpipe.

As well as aspirin, participants will also test anti-ulcer drug esomeprazole, as aspirin can increase the risk of developing stomach ulcers.

Lead researcher Professor Janusz Jankowski, of the Digestive Diseases Centre at the University of Leicester, said one of the main factors causing the cancer was a condition called Barrett's oesophagus.

The condition, which affects up to two per cent of the population, is caused when stomach acid ebbs back into the oesophagus. This damages the cells and they can later become cancerous.

Throughout the country, 5,000 men will be recruited for the study with the aim of treating Barrett's oesophagus and therefore cutting the number of people with cancer.

Dr Chris Healey, who is leading the ten-year trial at Airedale General Hospital, said: "The first crucial stage is to start recruiting people with Barrett's oesophagus to this important trial.

"These people will not only get the best possible care, but they will also help uncover key clues in the fight against cancer."

Symptoms of oesophageal cancer include:

l difficulty swallowing

l weight loss

l pain or discomfort in the throat, back, behind the breastbone or between the shoulder blades; and

l acid indigestion.