Health club operator and management contractor Parkwood leisure has become the latest operator to remove all sunbeds from its sites.

According to Andrew Holt, managing director, the decision to remove all tanning equipment by 1 January 2010 was made after the group reviewed researched conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Holt said: "Having considered the latest research in this area, we now feel that removing the sunbeds is in the best interests of our customers.

"Health and safety is our number one priority and always will be. Our local authority clients have given us their unanimous support for this initiative."

Lorraine Langdon, a member at Cardiff International Pool, which is operated by Parkwood, said she was relieved to see the sunbeds removed.

"I am pleased to see that the sunbeds are being removed from our centre. I think they are detrimental to our health and it is good to see that customers and members' health alike are being taken into consideration."

In July, a report by IARC declared that it had established a "clear link" between sunbeds and skin cancer.

The IARC, the World Health Organisation's (WHO) agency for research into cancer, reclassified sunbeds as a Group 1 agent and determined them to be "carcinogenic to humans". The move meant that sunbeds and artificial tanning systems are now deemed to pose a risk to human health.

Katy Scammell, Cancer Research UK's SunSmart manager, said: "Sunbeds have no real health benefits and we're really pleased to hear that Parkwood Leisure are removing them from their leisure centres. Cancer Research UK fully supports this step."

Parkwood Leisure operates 81 leisure centres throughout the UK, with sunbeds provided at the majority of these venues.