An international team of astronomers has made a major discovery about stars.

Scientists found that solar systems similar to our own could have existed elsewhere in the universe.

Team member Dr Jay Farihi, of the University of Leicester, presented the discovery at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science conference.

The astronomers noticed that at least one in 100 white dwarf stars – the compact, hot remnants left behind when stars like our Sun reach the end of their lives – show evidence of orbiting asteroids and rocky planets.

The results imply that asteroids are found in orbit around up to five million stars in our Milky Way galaxy.

Dr Farihi said: "In the quest for Earth-like planets, we have identified numerous systems which are excellent candidates to harbour them."