DOCTORS should be better equipped at spotting signs of pancreatic cancer, experts said, after a survey of GPs found nearly half were not confident they could identify the symptoms of the disease.

A poll of GPs by Pancreatic Cancer UK found 49% were not confident that they could identify the signs of pancreatic cancer. One in five want more formal evidence of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer .

Three in five want more information on "clusters of symptoms" rather than site-specific symptoms.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, National Cancer director at the Department of Health, said: "We must find ways to support GPs better in identifying symptoms which could be pancreatic cancer."