A new urine test could help to detect prostate cancer at an early stage and inform treatment decisions, new research suggests.

An early diagnosis of prostate cancer is important as it may reduce the need for surgery, which causes male incontinence in around five per cent of men and slight leaking in around a fifth of men who have the operation, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Scientists at the University of Michigan believe a new test that detects a genetic fault found in around half of all prostate cancers could be beneficial.

The test, which is detailed in the journal Science Translational Medicine, also looks for another marker called PCA3, thereby increasing its accuracy.

Lead author Dr Scott Tomlins, from the university's Health System, said that the new test "significantly improves the ability to predict whether a man has prostate cancer".

He added that the test could provide a new tool to help at-risk men decide whether to have a biopsy straight away or keep an eye on their protein levels.