The owner of a tanning salon in Ely says that irresponsible practitioners are giving her industry a bad name.

Pamela Gilbey has been running Tanning World, in Chequer Lane, for 14 years and is a firm believer that sunbeds, when used in moderation, are safe and can provide a range of health benefits.

But, she says, a series of bad headlines and high profile cases of malpractice have put people off using sunbeds – something she says is unfair.

Pam said: “I have regular inspections to make sure I am complying with the new European regulations for safety and I’m always surprised to hear that some businesses apparently are not.

“A lot of people get scared off by what they see and read but I want to let people know that we are complying with all the safety regulations.

“Sunbeds are not what people like to make out. They are not like they used to be. Done in moderation and sensibly, it can be beneficial. They can help improve minor skin ailments like acne and boost vitamin D.

“You have to be 18 to use a sunbed now and we are very strict because we are liable for a big fine if we are found to be breaking the law.”

An inspection carried out by enforcement officers in North Tyneside earlier this year found that eight out of 10 tanning salons were not compliant with the new regulations.

The legal limit for sunbed emissions, as set by the European Union, is 0.3 watts per square metre – the equivalent, the EU says, of the midday sun in the Mediterranean.

But, in Tyneside, some beds were found to operating at 1.18 watts per square metre.