An international trial of a one-a-day pill that could cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes has been launched.

The "polypill" combines a number of drugs, including aspirin and statins, to tackle high levels of cholesterol and blood pressure.

A previous trial of the drug carried out in 2009 found that "magic bullet" treatments could halve the number of strokes and heart attacks.

The latest investigation, which focuses on the so-called "Red Heart Pill", has recruited 2,000 at-risk volunteers from across Europe to test the effects of the medication.

Professor Simon Thom, co-principal investigator on the study from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College, said: "The polypill idea is really simple: make it easier for people to get the medication they need by giving them just one polypill to take each day rather than lots of different pills that may need to be taken at different times."

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