Regular fitness training can significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer, according to new research.

A study published this week in the British Journal of Cancer is the largest to have ever looked at the link between prostate cancer and exercise, involving over 45,000 Swedish men aged between 45 and 79 years.

Researchers looked at how likely men were to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in a ten-year period, compared with how physically active they were.

The results showed that men who walked or cycled for an hour a day had a 14 per cent lower risk than those who walked or cycled for just 20 to 40 minutes a day.

Men who walked or cycled for longer reduced their risk by seven per cent for every extra half an hour they exercised up to a maximum of two hours.

The researchers concluded: "Our results suggest that not sitting for most of the time during work or occupational activity and walking or bicycling more than 30 minutes per day during adult life is associated with reduced incidence of prostate cancer."