Habitable super-Earths with up to five times the mass of our own planet could possess vast, long-lasting oceans, new research suggests.

Oceans cover more than two thirds of the Earths surface and are continually replenished by volcanic activity dragging up water buried deep underground.

But a new study indicates that habitable zone planets with two to four times the Earths mass may be even better at establishing and maintaining oceans.

A planet occupying a stars habitable zone is in an orbit where temperatures are mild enough to allow the existence of liquid surface water, making lakes, rivers and oceans possible.

Most scientists agree that liquid water is a prerequisite for the development of life as we know it.

Dr Laura Schaefer, from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in the US, who led the new research, said: When people consider whether a planet is in the habitable zone, they think about its distance from the star and its temperature. However, they should also think about oceans, and look at super-Earths to find a good sailing or surfing destination.

Studies have shown that the Earths mantle holds several oceans worth of water that has been pulled underground by the movements of tectonic plates and sinking ocean floors.

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Super-Earths are the best bet for oceans capable of hosting life