Lancashire tanning salons get sunbed warning after checks
Tanning salons in Lancashire have been told to improve after large numbers of sunbeds failed safety checks.
Trading standards officers tested UV levels of 37 sunbeds in Lancaster and Morecambe and found 30 failed and only seven complied.
They also found almost half of the beds tested were at least twice over the safe limit.
Businesses who failed the test were warned to lower UV emissions to acceptable levels or face legal action.
The World Health Organisation warns against the use of cosmetic sunbeds because of health effects including skin cancer, eye damage and premature skin ageing.
Councillor Janice Hanson said: "The number of tanning salons whose sunbeds have failed these tests is quite alarming.
"Whilst work so far has been focused in Morecambe and Lancaster, the problem is likely to be more widespread and we'll be carrying out tests in other areas in the coming months.
"Public safety is of utmost importance and these results show that Lancashire residents need to exercise care if they are planning to use sunbeds."
Trading standards officer Steve Brimble said it was "worrying" that only seven out of 37 sunbeds complied with standards.