What is a Cookie?
Cookies are quite simply small pieces of text held in files that are stored on your computer. They are usually placed there by websites and enable the webmaster to have access to useful information in regards to your site preferences, location, language etc. It is actually very useful for you, the user, as it means that sites can run more effectively for you, enabling you to surf from page to page without having to re-enter information or preferences.
Generally, we have 3 types of cookies used throughout our web pages
- Cookies are deleted every time you close your browser, called sessions.
- Cookies that are stored until deleted or after a set period to save your preferences etc.
- Cookies set by external companies that have been pre-approved by us to help your experience.
A number of our cookies are considered essential for the site and others optional.
We can not access personal information or gain access to your computer using cookies. They simply share with us information of your choosing via inputs or forms on our site.
Controlling and Deleting Cookies
Before deleting or rejecting cookies on your browser, please be advised that doing so means that some sections of the website and other websites you visit may not function.
However, if you still wish to remove the cookies from your browser or to block them from ever being set in the future you can do so from the browser you are viewing this page in now. You have the choice to block all cookies or only particular ones depending on your choice. In addition to this you can also configure your browser to notify you each time a request to set a cookie is made.
If you would like to know how to monitor your cookies then visit www.aboutcookies.org for some useful information on controlling cookies in all browsers.
In the same manner, if you would like to remove all the cookies from any browser then visit www.aboutcookies.org for up to date instructions on removing cookies from any browser, old or new.
In addition to this, the help section of your browser should be able to help you find the answers you are looking for. Other useful resources on monitoring cookies can be found below:
- http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-gb/default.mspx
- http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/privacy/
- http://www.google.co.uk/goodtoknow/manage-data/
List of cookies used on our website
We have audited our website to provide you with a list of the cookies that could be set on your browser by our website. We have included the names of the cookies, their expiry dates and what they are used for.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics cookies are used on almost every site on the web these days because they provide very useful information on how visitors use individual web sites. We use Google Analytics to help us improve the site and they provide us with anonymous information on how visitors arrive at our site, where they have reached us from and which pages they viewed, when and for how long. If you would like more detailed information on Google Analytics cookies, you can find it here: Cookies & Google Analytics.
| Cookie Name | Expires | Usage |
| __utma | 2 years | Determines Unique Site Visitors |
| __utmb | 30 mins | Establish/Continue a Session |
| __utmc | Not Set | Randomly Generated Number |
| __utmz | 6 months | Determines Site Referral |
Social Sharing
We enable user to share our pages using Google+, Facebook and Twitter. These companies set the following cookies on your browser when they are clicked:
| Cookie Name | Expires | Usage |
| datr | 2 years | Identifies Web Browser |
| lsd | Browser Close | Anonymous Visitor ID |
| reg_ext_ref | Browser Close | Page That You Visited From |
| reg_fb_gate | Browser Close | First Facebook Page Visited |
| reg_fb_ref | Browser Close | Last Facebook Page Visited |
| wd | Browser Close | Stores Window Size |
| Cookie Name | Expires | Usage |
| guest_id | 2 Years | Random User ID |
Cookie Banner
We set a cookie on your computer to acknowledge that you accept cookies and to stop the banner showing on every page:
| Cookie Name | Expires | Usage |
| cookie_banner | 1 year | Stops the banner showing on every page |
Find out more
There is a lot of information on the web about cookies, but you can find all the information you need here at www.allaboutcookies.org, which provides all the information you need on what exactly cookies are and how to manage, restrict, block or delete them. If you are viewing this on a mobile browser you will need to read your mobile browser handbook.
