Women up to the age of 70 in Northern Ireland will be invited for breast screening, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has announced.

In the past, women aged between 50 and 64 have been routinely invited for mammograms every three years.

At the moment, about 150,000 women are invited for screening, but the new plans mean a further 45,000 women will be eligible for mammograms.

Mr McGimpsey said screening "could be the difference between life and death".

"The earlier that breast cancer can be identified, the better chance of a successful treatment and increased survival," he said.

"There is a 97% survival rate at five years for those women who have been detected to have breast cancer under the screening programme."

Mr McGimpsey was speaking at the newly refurbished breast screening unit at Linenhall Street in Belfast, which also includes an additional x-ray and ultrasound room.

His comments come as new figures reveal that cancer is still the biggest killer in Northern Ireland.

Nearly 4,000 people died from the disease last year - a rise from 2,900 in 1978, according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

Mr McGimsey said about 1,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Northern Ireland each year and approximately 300 women will die.

"The extension of the screening age up to 70 will save lives, and I would encourage everyone invited for an appointment to attend," he said.