Doctors should be more upfront when giving information to terminal cancer patients, according to a new study.

The research was led by Lesley Fallowfield, director of the oncology group at the University of Sussex.

Of the 2,850 patients studied, the overwhelming majority wanted as much information as possible, regardless of whether it was good or bad.

Professor Fallowfield said: "Doctors have difficulty being honest when the news is very bad.

"They often underestimate the needs of their patients and may censor the information in the belief they are being kind.

"Patients need to plan and make decisions."