Olive oil 'wards off skin cancer'

Scientists have uncovered a new weapon in the fight against skin cancer - olive oil.

Japanese researchers have found that applying high quality olive oil to the skin after sunbathing reduces the risk of developing tumours.

The theory was tested on genetically modified hairless mice.

The researchers found that high-grade, virgin olive oil smeared on the skin delayed the appearance of tumours and reduced their size.

However, Dr Kate Law from The Cancer Research Campaign said, "to suggest you can go out in the sun and frazzle, and then undo some of the damage using olive oil does not seem terribly scientific to me".

Source BBC News