Young women who binge drink, particularly during their teenage years, may be increasing their risk of developing breast cancer, new research suggests.

According to US scientists, youngsters who drink alcohol most days are five times more likely to develop benign breast disease which could, in turn, increase the risk of cancer later in life.

It has previously been estimated that around 600 women in England die each year from breast cancer caused by excessive alcohol consumption, but the number of binge drinking teenage girls continues to rise.

Researchers found that girls who drank on six or seven days of the week were five times more likely to develop the benign disease, in which non-cancerous lumps, cysts or skin and nipple problems can sometimes lead to breast cancer.

Of the 7,000 girls involved, those who were diagnosed with benign breast disease were found to drink more and more often.