Researchers at King’s College London say they have found the first new treatment for asthma attacks in 50 years.

The injection called Benralizumab dampens part of the immune system that can go into overdrive in flare-ups of both asthma and a lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BBC News says it is already used in the most severe cases, but the latest research suggests it could be used routinely for around two million attacks in the UK each year.

Benralizumab targets a type of white blood cell – called an eosinophil – that can cause inflammation and damage in the lungs.