The six male cancer patients whose sperm was damaged when a hospital freezer broke down have been told that they can claim damages in what is to be a landmark compensation claim.

The sperm was originally frozen when the men began cancer treatment in order to preserve their fertility.

Five of the six men claimed that had suffered psychiatric problems as a result of the incident at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

The Court of Appeal ruled the samples, given after the patients were warned chemotherapy could make them infertile, belonged to the men.

The judges ruled the six men could therefore make medical neglience claim damages for the loss.

The hospital trust had denied liability, claiming the sperm samples were not property in the legal sense and there could be no damages claim.

The hearing will now be heard at Exeter County Court.