Scientists have sounded the alarm over a chemical found in many fruit juices they claim is linked to cancer.

A new study has claimed many popular brands of fruit juice and cordial contain far higher levels of antimony than is deemed safe in drinking water.

They believe the chemical may have leached into the drinks from their plastic bottles.

“The concentrations in the products tested exceed the limit of drinking water but no legalisation exists for foodstuffs so no legislation has been broken,” researcher Claus Hansen told the Daily Mail.

“We cannot be sure that the antimony levels are harmless.”

But he admitted: “You would have to drink a lot of blackcurrant juice to go beyond the recommended maximum dose which is why there's no antimony limits for drinking water or soft drinks.”