Environmental health officers from Leeds City Council have warned tanning salons in the area not to let under-18s use sunbeds.

The officers point to a recent change in the law which prevents youngsters from using the tanning method and allows local authorities to take action against business that fail to comply.

In response to the new legislation, tanning salons have been issued with guidelines on how best to enforce the rules and it recommends asking for identification as to a young person's age and having prominent displays warning of the dangers of sunbed use. The Health and Safety Executive, in its guidance to the law, said that exposure to UV tanning equipment before the age of 35 "significantly increases" the risk of skin cancer.

Cancer charities have welcomed the change, with Professor Chris Twelves, deputy director of Cancer research UK's Clinical Centre at St James's Hospital in Leeds, saying: "From our perspective I am delighted to see legislation come into force. I hope and expect that it will reduce inappropriate use of sunbeds to young people who are most at risk of serious skin cancer."

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