Kidney cancer is far less common than heart disease or Alzheimer's

When broken down into drug types, phenacetin and acetaminophen (Paracetamol) provided the highest risks, followed by aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibrubrofen.

NSAIDs are also taken by sufferers of bowel conditions such as Crohn's Disease, and as a preventive measure against Alzheimer's Disease.

Low doses did not raise risk

However, those who were taking 325mg - one regular strength pill - of aspirin a day exclusively to protect their hearts showed no signs of increased risk regardless of how long they had been taking the drug.

The report said: "Given that there is no evidence that ingestion of a regular strength aspirin a day even for as long as 10 years leads to any increased risk of renal cell carcinoma, we would recommend that dosage or less for preventive health purposes."

The overall risk of renal cell cancer remains small in comparison to that of other major diseases.

Professor Peter Selby, director of clinical studies at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, said that the research added to the debate on cancer and analgesics - but did not represent the last word.

He said: "The messages overall are still mixed, although this does add weight to the theory that there is a small risk connected with taking a lot of analgesics over a long period."

He reassured those taking lower doses of aspirin and NSAIDs to prevent heart disease and colorectal cancer that there was no evidence of potential harm, and urged them to continue.

Only six per 100,000 people are expected to develop the condition compared to 204, 44, and 95 per 100,000 for fatal heart disease, colorectal cancer and Alzheimer's respectively.

Renal cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 2% of all cancers diagnosed in the UK, although it is difficult to treat, with a cure rate of about a third.

New evidence released this week showed that daily aspirin can reduce the risk of stroke in women - although high doses were found to actually increase the risk.

Taking more than 15 aspirins a week raised the chance of haemmorhagic stroke, caused by a burst blood vessel in the brain, although lower doses reduced the risk of ischaemic stroke, caused when a blood clot blocks a major vessel.