Michael Howard's claim that a constituent was waiting 20 months for breast cancer treatment has been disputed by her NHS trust.

The Conservative leader used the case in the Commons as "evidence" of Labour's inflexibility on waiting lists.

But the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which treats cancer patients from his Folkestone and Hythe constituency, denied the claim. 

"The trust has no cancer patients waiting 20 months for radiotherapy," a statement said.

"The longest wait as of Monday was 14 weeks for low-risk cancers. The most urgent patients are seen immediately."