New findings by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggest that hot drinks could be linked to cancer .

The WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) argue that drinks above 65 degrees Celsius could cause oesophageal cancer in a study published on Wednesday (June 15).

However, a health group that promotes tea drinking have hit back at the claims to say that the great British cup of tea can in fact reduce cancer risk.

Dr Tim Bond, from the Tea Advisory Panel (TAP), argues that tea drinking in the UK will not increase your chances of oesophageal cancer because tea is traditionally drunk with milk, which lowers them temperature.

He said: “Thankfully, this ruling on temperature has no relevance to tea drinking in the UK where tea is typically consumed with milk.

“It is important to note that IARC is only considering the temperature of beverages in this particular announcement set to be launched later today, and focuses solely on risks, not benefits.

“Tea itself continues to be given a clean bill of health since it was given a Group 3 rating by an IARC committee several years ago, defined as no evidence to enable any classification for cancer.”

Milk lessens the risk

Tea cooled with milk is said to be less dangerous

According to TAP, hot drinks are set to be given a 2A classification by the WHO, which means they are probably carcinogenic to humans.

Oesophageal cancer is an uncommon but serious form of cancer that has caused an estimated 7,700 deaths in the UK in 2012, according to charity Cancer Research UK .

Dr Bond said preliminary experiments by TAP showed that tea cooled from 63 degrees C without milk, to 58.6 degrees with milk.

He added that a review available studies found 272 said regular tea consumption had either a beneficial impact by reducing cancer risks, while a further 127 said it had no impact.

TAP is made up nutritionists, dieticians and doctors.

Also listed by the WHO as 'probably carcinogenic' are the mosquito-spread infectious disease malaria and the widely-used weed killer glyphosate.

Dr Bond added: “TAP is hopeful that emerging evidence suggesting that tea drinking could reduce the risk of cancer may one day be recognised by health authorities by health authorities in Europe as it is in the USA.

“In conclusion, this latest announcement from IARC expected later today for very hot beverages has no relevance to the great British cuppa enjoyed by millions of people daily.

“Emerging evidence suggests that tea contributes to heart health and may help to reduce the risk of cancer, although this needs to be backed up with further human studies.”