New hope of finding life on Mars after indication of water, scientists say

Liquid amounting to a 1-2km-deep ocean may be frozen up to 20km below surface, calculations suggest

Vast amounts of water could be trapped deep within the crust of Mars, scientists have said, raising fresh questions about the possibility of life on the red planet.

Scientists say that more than 3bn years ago, Mars not only had lakes and rivers but oceans on its surface - however, as the planet lost its atmosphere these bodies disappeared. All that is visible today is permafrost ice at the planet's poles.