It is part of a range of measures to be announced by the government on Tuesday, aimed at speeding up diagnosis and improving treatment of the disease.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, affecting 34,000 people each year, and the second biggest cancer killer, claiming the lives of 16,000 each year.

If it is spotted early, it can be cured. But the cancer can be very hard to detect

Potential

The government still has to decide which test to use for its screening programme.

There is strong evidence that deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented by earlier diagnosis and treatment Professor Mike Richards, Cancer Tsar

Doctors could use sigmoidoscopy, where a probe with a tiny camera on the end is inserted into the bowel, or fecal occult blood tests, which involve taking a stool sample which is then checked for signs of bleeding.

The government's cancer tsar Professor Mike Richards, said: "There is strong evidence that deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented by earlier diagnosis and treatment for patients who present with symptoms.

"The NHS Bowel Cancer Programme will involve professionals from the NHS and voluntary sector to ensure improvements in care and treatment, including a national screening programme for bowel cancer, are right for both patients and the people who deliver these services."

On the agenda

Jola Gore Booth, chief executive of Colon Cancer Concern: "We support the NHS bowel cancer programme.

"Above all, we support its aim of reducing instances and deaths from this terrible disease."

Dr Richard Sullivan, Cancer Research UK's head of clinical programmes, said: "We welcome the news that a screening programme for the disease is now firmly on the government's agenda.

"It is also important that screening is allied with sufficient resources to treat symptomatic patients diagnosed outside of a screening programme with the best surgery and the latest chemotherapy and radiotherapy, so that they are given the best possible chance of survival."

Gill Oliver of Macmillan Cancer Relief welcomed the programme, but said: "This was first highlighted in the NHS Cancer Plan over two years ago and we want to ensure there are no more delays in diagnosis, information and support for people affected by bowel cancer."