Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, said he would not rule out overturning the recommendation which campaigners branded a 'profound disappointment'.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the UK but unlike breast, bowel and lung cancer, there is currently no national screening programme.

Yesterday's recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee will leave many men wondering whether the evidence will ever be enough.

Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, said he would not rule out overturning the recommendation which campaigners branded a 'profound disappointment'.