Moon has enough water under its surface to host a base, scientists claim

The moon has vast reserves of water under its surface which could meet the needs of a base, scientists believe.

Gases from ancient volcanic eruptions could have left ice hundreds of feet thick at its poles, a study found.

Researchers think two fifths of vapour spewed out two to four billion years ago may have settled in craters.

At the time, thousands of square miles of lunar surface was covered in lava, according to the University of Colorado research.

Graduate physicist Andrew Wilcoski said: “We envision it as a frost on the moon that built up over time.”

Co-author Prof Paul Hayne said it would be a bounty for explorers who will need water to drink and turn into rocket fuel.

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Volcanic eruptions could have left ice like frost on the moon's surface (Getty Images)

The team estimated that nearly 6,000 square miles of the lunar surface may be capable of trapping ice, mostly near the two poles.

Hayne said: “Volcanic eruptions could have left ice like frost on a cold winter night.”

• A gel film that pulls water from the air in deserts has been developed by the University of Texas.