What are cookies?
‘Cookies’ are small text files that are stored by the browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, etc) on your computer or mobile phone. They allow websites to store such things as user preferences. You can think of cookies as providing a “memory” for the website, enabling it to recognise a user and respond in the correct way.
How do we use cookies?
A visit to a page on our website may generate the following types of cookie:
| Cookie | Name | Purpose | More information |
| Google Analytics | _utma _utmb _utmc _utmz |
These cookies are used to collect anonymous information about how visitors use our website. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the website. | Click here for an overview of privacy at Google |
| Content Management System cookie | CMSSESSID | This cookie is set by our content management system upon arrival to our website. It is not used for any purpose and is deleted when a user closes their browser. | |
| Cookies preference | cookiesDirective | This cookie is used to remember that you have seen our cookies notification. |
How do I turn cookies off?
All modern browsers allow you to change your cookie settings. These settings will typically be found in the ‘options’ or ‘preferences’ menu of your browser. In order to understand these settings, the following links may be helpful, otherwise you should use the ‘Help’ option in your browser for more details.
NOTE: Turning off cookies may hinder the performance of this website and some features may not work correctly.
Cookie settings in Internet Explorer
Cookie settings in Firefox
Cookie settings in Chrome
Cookie settings in Safari
If you are primarily concerned about third party cookies generated by advertisers, you can turn these off by going to the Your Online Choices site.
You can also visit the trade body representing these advertising platforms for more information: Network Advertising Initative.
They have provided a one-stop place that gathers all of the opt-out controls. Please bear in mind that the are many more networks listed than we use on this site. http://networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp
Useful Links
If you would like to find out more about cookies and their use on the Internet, you may find the following links useful:
Microsoft Cookies guide
All About Cookies
The IAB has provided the following website to give information specifically about privacy issues around Internet advertising: youronlinechoices.co.uk/uk
For further legal information about privacy issues, you may find these links useful:
Data Protection Act 1998
The Information Commissioner’s Office