Sun beds are particularly popular with young women

They want all coin-operated salons to be closed down and European legislation introduced to oversee the burgeoning industry and better protect its users.

Scientific research suggests prolonged exposure to sun beds damages skin cells leading, in some cases, to cancer.

About 70,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in Britain every year.

Pairing -up

The call comes in a joint agreement reached by Cancer Research UK and The Sunbed Association (TSA).

The TSA - which represents about a quarter of the UK's 8,000 tanning salons - says evidence suggests there is an increased chance of developing skin cancer later in life for those who have experienced sunburn as a child.

TSA secretary, Kathy Banks, said any operator who allows under-16s to use their sun beds is acting irresponsibly.

Guidelines should advise people most at risk from the use of sun beds not to use them Cancer Research UK

"In the opinion of the TSA, they should not be allowed to carry on operating if they allow this practice to continue," she said.

"We know there are non-member operators out there who ignore some or, even worse, all safety guidelines," she added.

Sara Hiom of Cancer Research UK wants EU-wide guidelines to make all sun beds made and sold in Europe carry a warning setting out the risks of use.

"These should include a list of those groups of people most at risk from sun bed use and strongly advising them against it," she said.

Deadly foe

Cases of malignant melanoma - the potentially fatal form of skin cancer - increased by 24% between 1995 and 2000.

About 7,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed annually with about 1,700 deaths resulting from the disease.

It is the third most common cancer among people aged 15-39.