Figures released by Cancer Research UK this morning reveal that the number of women diagnosed with womb cancer in the country is at its highest level in 30 years, prompting calls to address the issue.

In 1975, 13 in every 100,000 women were diagnosed with the disease but, more than 30 years later, rates have climbed to more than 19 per 100,000, with 7,530 now developing womb cancer every year in the UK, according to the charity.

The incidence of womb cancer peaks in women aged 60-79, and this group has also seen the largest swell in rates – almost doubling since 1975.

The charity notes that an increase in the number of overweight women as well as those having no or fewer children is fuelling the rise in the disease, which is now the fourth most common cancer in UK.

“These figures show that we’re still seeing a year on year rise in the number of women diagnosed with womb cancer and more needs to be done to tackle this,” said Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s director of health information.

She also stressed that all women should be aware of the symptoms of womb cancer, which can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially for post-menopausal women, as well as abdominal pain and pain during sex.