A Scottish charity has awarded nearly £4m to fund 20 new cancer research projects around the world.

It follows a series of Dragons' Den-style meetings involving teams from across the globe.

The chosen projects will involve researchers at labs in the UK, America, Argentina, Europe and Australia.

Dr Helen Rippon, chief executive of St Andrews-based Worldwide Cancer Research, said: "We are so thankful to our generous supporters for raising the money we need to support these pioneering researchers.

"We are delighted to invest £4m into some of the most innovative and exciting research taking place all over the world.

"As a charity, we have been funding cancer research for nearly 40 years and we believe that our global search for answers will one day help stop cancer consuming lives and shattering families."

One of the winners, Dr Pierre Guermonprez of King's College London, will receive £242,312 to investigate how Crispr gene-editing could be used to bolster a cancer-sufferer's system.

Professor John Spencer from the University of Sussex will be given £187,500 to fund a drug discovery programme.

A further £151,614 was awarded to Dr Diego Laderach of the Iquibicen-Conicet, Argentina, to develop a new type of immunotherapy for prostate cancer.

Professor Salvador Aznar-Benitah of Spain will receive £208,334 to determine how fats in our diet might contribute to the spread of oral, skin and breast cancer.