Wiltshire Council has taken the decision to remove all sunbeds from their leisure centres.

The three leisure centres affected are Pewsey Sports Centre, Bradford Swimming Pool and The Activity Zone, Malmesbury.

This decision has been made following research by a working group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer which reported there is a clear link between sunbeds and skin cancer.

The working group has classified UV-emitting tanning devices as a Group 1 agent, meaning they are deemed to pose a risk to human health.

The report found that people who had begun using tanning devices before the age of 30 were up to 75 percent more likely to suffer from melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.

Stuart Wheeler, Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, said: “Wiltshire Council inherited the managerial responsibility for 20 leisure centres in April. Prior to this a number of the former district councils had made the decision not to provide sunbeds for health related reasons.

“This new report, which highlights again the possible danger that sunbeds can cause to health, warranted the decision to remove sunbeds from the three remaining facilities as of October 1, 2009.”

DC Leisure, which manage the Bradford and Malmesbury centres have begun to see a decline in usage of sunbeds and support the council’s decision.

The council is liaising with customers to make them aware of the decision to remove the sunbeds.