Weymouth and Portland Borough Council are supporting the ban on sunbeds for under 18s imposed today.

The new law brought into force nationally aims to protect children and young people from dangerous UVA and UVB rays which are emitted from sunbeds.

According to Cancer Research UK, Weymouth and Portland has one of the highest rates for malignant melanomas in England – almost double the average case rate for England.

Now, councils across Dorset have written to all sunbed businesses advising them of the new law and have provided guidance on what measures they should put in place to ensure that they are operating legally.

Essentially sunbed businesses must be satisfied that everyone who uses a sunbed is aged 18 years or over.

They will be expected to check for photographic proof of age before allowing people to use their sunbed machines.

Kate Hindson, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s director of communities, said: “Sunbeds are a health risk and this risk increases for young people.

“I’m sure the majority of sunbed users are already aware of this, however this change in the law will send out the message that under 18s who use sunbeds are taking a gamble with their health, significantly increasing their chances of developing skin cancer.

“The statistics for young sunbed users who develop skin cancer are worryingly high; it is incredibly important to protect young people which is why Weymouth and Portland Borough Council fully supports this ban.”

An operator of a sunbed business, who breaks the law, could be prosecuted with a fine up to £20,000.

There have been many instances where young people have been burnt from using a sunbed for too long and the use of sunbeds is proven to increase the chance of getting skin cancer.

According to a report by Cancer Research, around two people under 35 are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in the UK, making it the most frequently occurring of all cancers.

These harmful rays can also leak to surrounding areas, so the law also states that sunbed businesses must not permit under 18s from entering a room containing a sunbed.