As the British summer approaches people may resort to tanning beds to top get a sun kissed look the but recent research suggests they could be addictive.

Researchers, Dr Catherine E.Mosher and Dr Shannon Danoff-Burg at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre surveyed 421 American college students and found that between over one third of sunbed users could be classified as being addicted.

They warned: “Despite ongoing efforts to educate the public about the health risks associated with natural and non-solar UV radiation, recreational tanning continues to increase among young adults.” And they called for there to be more help for people also suffering from anxiety to help them kick the habit.

Second year Kingston University dance student Danielle Griffith said although she uses sunbeds she is not worried about becoming addicted:  “I don’t really like them I only use them so I don’t burn when I go on holiday.”

Dosia Kaliowska, the manager at the Tanning Salon in Kingston said she did not think it was a problem: “We don’t have any addicts here, some regulars yes.  They come because they feel well when they come here sunbeds give you vitamin D which makes you feel better.”

In recent years sunbeds have been increasingly linked to the risk of developing skin cancer later in life and the House of Lords recently passed a bill to ban under 18 year olds from using sunbeds.

Sarah Woolnough, head of policy at Cancer Research UK said that this latest research:  “Underlines the importance of stopping children from having access to sunbeds."  And emphasised the importance of making people aware of the health risks associated with sunbeds.