People under the age of 18 are to be banned from using sunbeds across England and Wales under "tough" new rules to be introduced from 8 April.

The Sunbeds (Regulations) Act 2010 - introduced as a Private Members Bill - will make it an offence for sunbed business operators to allow young people to use such facilities. It is hoped that the new legislation will reduce the incidence of skin cancer and protect under 18s from over-exposure to ultra-violet radiation.

Meanwhile, it will also allow the Welsh Assembly Government to introduce tighter controls on the use of sunbeds, with unsupervised use in Wales to be banned from 31 October. Welsh health minister Edwina Hart said: "These measures are designed to protect young people from the increased risk of developing skin cancer resulting from the use of sunbeds.

"While our main focus is to protect children and young people, the regulations also provide the requirement for sunbed operators to provide more advice and protection for adults." A number of English and Welsh local authorities, as well as facility operators, have already decided to remove sunbeds from leisure centres over health fears.

It comes after a 2009 report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer found that there was a "clear link" between sunbeds and skin cancer.