What is a cookie?
A cookie is a simple text file used to allow a website to remember you as you move between pages of a website (a session cookie) or when you return to a website you have previously visited (a persistent cookie). Cookies are used to perform lots of different tasks such as storing your preferences, remembering what is in your shopping basket and improving your experience of a website. When a website doesn’t use cookies it will not recognise you and treat you as a new user each time you visit and between pages – for example when you want to visit the checkout from your shopping basket without cookies the website won’t be able to ‘remember’ what you had in your basket.
Cookies may be set by the website you are visiting (‘first party cookies’) or they may be set by other websites who run content on the page you are viewing (‘third party cookies’).
What is in a cookie?
Cookies are unique to your web browser, they are simple text files and typically contain a unique identifier and some text or numbers which allow a website to remember you. Cookies cannot change settings on your computer or pass on any malware or viruses, they can only store plain text.
Why does this website use cookies?
Cookies are used on this website to optimise content based on analysis of which pages are visited, search terms are used and which pages are popular. This data helps to improve the content and information provided to visitors. Cookies on this website are never used to collect any personal or payment information.
What cookies does this website set?
| Cookie Name | Description |
|---|---|
| PHPSESSID | A simple variable used by PHP applications to identify your unique session on this website. This token’s purpose is to maintain the integrity of your session/visit when communicating information with a website: accessing secure areas, submitting forms etc. This cookie expires and is removed every time you close your browser. |
| cc_cookie_accept | This cookie is set when you click to accept cookies order to remember your preference. |
| _ga, __utma, __utmb, __utmc, __utmz |
Google Analytics: This website uses Google Analytics to examine traffic levels, search engine terms, popular content and visits to this website.
Data collected with these cookies is not associated with personally identifiable information by this website, other websites or Google and is used for website content optimisation. These cookies are set automatically when visiting this website but they can be controlled by setting your browser to disallow cookies or by visitinghttps://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en-GB |
| __atuvc | AddThis: this website uses social media tool Add This to help provide links to social network websites like Facebook and Twitter. This tool also provides buttons to print pages and to email friends etc.
Data collected with this cookie and associated cookies set by Twitter and Facebook is not linked with persnonally identifieable information by this website and is used to provide an easy method of sharing website content. AddThis may set the following cookies from addthis.com as a result of the tool being embedded on this website: __atuvc, atgotcode, di, dt, loc, uvc, psc, ssc, ssh, sshs, uid, uit. These cookies are set automatically when visiting this website and they can be controlled by setting your browser to disallow cookies or by visitinghttp://www.addthis.com/privacy/opt-out |
| __atssc / __atuvc | Twitter. This cookie is used for twitter integration. |
What to do if you do not want cookies to be set?
Some people find the concept of a website storing information about them on their computer intrusive, especially when this information is stored and used by a third party without their knowledge. While this is normally harmless, for example when gathering analytics data, you may not wish to see tailored advertising for example. It is possible, if you prefer to block some or all cookies, how to achieve this will vary depending on the web browser you are using. Typically you can control how your browser handles cookies by accessing the Help function on your browser. For more detailed information about cookies please visit www.aboutcookies.org
