The Guardian, from www.guardian.co.uk/

Researchers from Wayne State University in Detroit used data from 162,000 women in the largest and most comprehensive study of the long-term consequences of taking the contraceptive.

The findings contradict previous research suggesting a link with heart disease and tumours, and will prove reassuring to the 3 million women who take the pill in Britain.

The study found that birth control pills reduce the incidence of heart attacks and other forms of cardiovascular disease and lower the incidence of certain types of cancer, including ovarian and endometrial cancer.

Oral contraceptives were found to have no effect on rates of breast and cervical cancer, high blood pressure and stroke - all of which have been suggested as dangers by previous research.

Rahi Victory, who led the research, said: "These are important findings that contravene previous results on links between oral contraceptives and cardiovascular disease.