People who wear a tight belt are at greater risk of developing throat cancer, new research suggests.

Scottish experts believe that a tight belt can force stomach acid into the oesophagus - in turn causing damage.

This increases the chance of oesophageal cancer.

The researchers, from Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities and Southern General Hospital, believe the risk is greatest in people who are overweight.

The Daily Record reports that the researchers worked with 24 volunteers who had no history of acid reflux.

They were each asked to swallow a device which took a selection of readings before and after the volunteers had eaten.

Measurements were recorded both when the participants were wearing a belt and when they were not.

The researchers discovered that when the participants were wearing a tight belt they were more likely to suffer acid reflux.

This finding was particularly pronounced in overweight people.

Lead researcher Professor Kenneth McColl, of Glasgow University’s institute of cardiovascular and medical sciences, told the Daily Record: ‘Wearing a tight belt, especially if you are overweight, puts strain on the valve between the stomach and the gullet. This causes stomach acid to leak upwards into the gullet.

‘Unlike the stomach, which is designed to withstand this, the gullet is damaged by the acid. This causes heartburn and, in the longer term, possibly oesophageal cancer.’

Professor McColl went on to explain that the prevalence of oesophageal cancer increasing faster than almost all other cancers.

Cancer of the oesophagus is rare in the UK and most cases affect people over the age of 55.

About 8,200 people develop the disease in the UK every year.

The earliest symptom tends to be difficulty swallowing.

Acid reflux is linked to the cancer because it can damage cells in the oesophagus causing them to change.

These changed cells are more likely to becoming cancerous.