Sperm from a donor who unknowingly carried a devastating genetic condition was used to father nearly 200 children across Europe.

The man was not unwell himself, so had no idea that 20% of his sperm carried a mutation of the TP53 gene, which fights cancer cells in the body when working correctly.

Any children born by this affected sperm will carry this mutation in every cell of their bodies, meaning they are highly likely to develop cancer in their lives, with childhood cancer a particularly high risk.

Their condition is called Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and means they have up to a 90% risk of developing cancer before they turn 60.

A small number of British woman who had fertility treatment abroad were among those who received sperm from this donor, fertility regulator the Human Fertilisatio

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