The trade body which represents private hospitals and clinics described the 7% rupture rate reported in recent days as misleading.

We do not know the exact rupture rate in the UK.

"Certainly to get rupture rates that Transform are talking about is entirely unacceptable," he said.

The company said it had seen a rupture rate of about 1 percent a year.

"Regardless of the rupture rate, they should be taken out because the silicon is not of medical grade."

The rupture rate could be anywhere between one and 10 per cent.

Health officials will want to know urgently if Transform's rupture rate is a one-off or symptomatic of the whole industry.

In France, the official rupture rate is five per cent, and women who have the implants are being offered free removal.

French authorities have reported a high rupture rate and are offering to remove all implants.

The French authorities say the rupture rate is 5%.