People in their 50s are being urged to take the tests with around 100 cancers a week on average diagnosed through the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme during the year.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: ‘People have extremely busy lives but we are concerned about the low numbers of people in their 50s returning their bowel screening kits.'

Almost one million more people were invited for bowel screening in 2024-25 compared to the previous year as the NHS expansion to younger age groups was completed.

Overall uptake was 65.2%, down slightly from 67.6% the previous year, with the report showing younger age groups were less likely to take up the offer.

Among 60 to 74-year-olds, 72.9% were up to date with screening, up from 71.8% and the highest level since the measure began in 2014.