The Irish Cancer Society says tanning shops they investigated as part of an undercover operation, all encouraged a teenager to use sunbeds.

The ICS sent a fair-skinned and blonde 17-year-old to seven tanning shops this month – all of them allegedly encouraged her to use sunbeds.

The girl was also told she should be tanning three times a week, in preparation for an October wedding.

None of the salons asked the girl what age she was.

Research has found a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma when people began regularly tanning on sunbeds, before the age of 35.

The Society wants more controls put in place to protect children, and is calling on the government to publish the Public Health (Sunbeds) Bill.