Tanning salons in Oxfordshire have defended their safety measures saying fears about the danger of youngsters using sunbeds were exaggerated.

The Tanning Shop in Blue Boar Street, Oxford, and The Brown Experience in Wootton Road, Abingdon, support a ban on unmanned sunbeds, but said their salons promoted sensible tanning.

Figures from a Cancer Research UK survey estimated young people using beds were 75 per cent more likely to develop skin cancer.

The charity has called for a ban on the use of sunbeds by under 18s and on coin-operated beds.

Christine Dalton(pictured), of The Tanning Shop, said: "What Cancer Research say is too biased. They are always talking about the bad points. It's just giving the wrong information.

"The policy in my store is that we don't allow under 18s to use the sunbeds and everybody who comes in has to fill out a consultation form. I feel it's a safe environment here."

The Sunbed Association, of which both salons are members, criticised the figures as "sensationalist".

They argued there was no scientific evidence to suggest tanning was especially dangerous for those aged under 18.

A statement from the association said: "Cancer Research UK is using its valuable funds to perpetuate myths about sunbed use and scare people away from using sunbeds."

The Brown Experience, which has branches in Witney and Abingdon, allows teenagers over the age of 16 to use their beds, but carefully controls their use.

Steve Brown, from the Abingdon branch, said: "There are positive things about tanning if the salons are run properly.

"My concern is if there is a ban for under 18s they will just use unmanned sunbeds. It's down to the Government to ban the coin-operated machines.

"I would support any ban like that because they are totally unregulated and people can go on them as much as they want.

"The beds are getting stronger and kids treat tanning as if its a competition. We tell them they're only going to reach a plateau with the tan but they often want more."

Cancer Research UK issued the figures as part of the launch of its 2008 SunSmart campaign, which warned the public of the dangers of overexposure to UV rays.

The group commissioned a survey of 4,000 people, which found 82 per cent of sunbed users had begun using them before the age of 35.

The British Association of Dermatologists has also called for a ban on the use of sunbeds by under 18s.