This was despite a study published the previous year indicating long-term mobile and cordless phone use triples the risk of brain cancer, although this contradicted other similar investigations.

According to Cancer Research UK, it is “unlikely” that mobile phones increase the risk of brain tumours however “we do not know enough to completely rule out a risk”.

However, the organisation cautions that because phones are a relatively recent invention it may take many more years until the data is sufficient to make more robust conclusions.

Responding to the new resaerch, Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor of Applied Statistics at The Open University, said the significance of the trend may be less clear cut than the research group claim.

But he added: “This research does point to something that may well be worth investigating further.

“Other studies in other parts of the world have found similar increases.”

“It’s important, though, to understand that this new paper did not examine any new data at all about potential causes for the increase.”

The new study list causal factors aside from mobile phone use that may explain the GMB trend, including radiation from X-rays, CT scans and the fallout from atomic bomb tests in the atmosphere.

Cliff O’Gorman, Chief Executive of Children with Cancer UK, said: “This Journal of Public Health and Environment study was published independently and was not funded by Children with Cancer UK, however any rise in the number of children being diagnosed with cancer is deeply worrying – particularly for brain tumours which have a very poor prognosis.

“Brain tumours kill more children in the UK than any other cancer. It’s essential we fund more research to make kinder and safer treatments for young patients and understand why there is an increase in incidence rates .”

News Science