People who need vein surgery can now choose the VNUS Closure System, which allows surgeons to treat patients more conveniently and speeds up recovery.

Varicose veins affect as many as one in five people and can run in families. In young, active individuals they interfere with work and leisure, causing discomfort, aching and swelling. Many sufferers, especially women, often feel embarrassed about the appearance of their legs and cover up, avoiding skirts or shorts.

They are caused by faulty valves in the vein, which can lead to skin problems, such as itching, redness and eczema. If left untreated, some patients can develop legs ulcers.

Mr Rob Salaman, consultant vascular surgeon at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, which oversees Burnley General, and who has been trialling the new method said: "The treatment I am using is a minimally invasive treatment alternative with less pain and less bruising when compared to traditional vein stripping surgery and laser treatment.

"Using the VNUS Closure system, we can close the affected veins by inserting the closure catheter into a vein and heating the vein wall using temperature-controlled radio frequency energy.

"Heating the vein wall causes the wall to shrink and vein to close. After the vein is sealed shut, blood then naturally reroutes to healthy veins.

"The procedure is performed using local anaesthesia and at the moment we perform the treatment in theatre but hope to have the service in an out-patient setting. This should allow the Trust to free up valuable operating theatres, ward beds and staff for other more invasive procedures."

For 100 years the traditional treatment for varicose veins was vein stripping, normally carried out under general anaesthesia in operating theatres, and sometimes involving an overnight stay in hospital. Treatment involves the removal of the vein and a groin incision, with a prolonged recovery period and delayed return to normal activities, especially driving and walking.