A simple blood test could help more young children survive an aggressive and often deadly form of cancer, a new study suggests.

An international team of scientists has found that "biomarkers" in the blood identify a hard-to-treat form of neuroblastoma, the most common cancer in children aged five or under, accounting for 15% of deaths from the disease.

They believe a test can be created which would allow doctors to identify children with the high-risk form of the disease earlier, allowing them to be offered experimental treatments that may have a higher chance of success than chemotherapy.

Study leader Professor Sue Burchill, of the University of Leeds, said: "This not only gives them the best chance of living longer, but will help speed up the development of much needed treatments."

Neuroblastoma affects 100 children every year in the UK.