This information has been provided so you can understand what cookies are and what they do - then you can decide whether you wish to allow them to be used on your computer or device or not.
What are cookies?
Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we put on your computer if you agree. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.
Why do we use cookies?
Cookies are used to ensure the website works correctly and to help us to change the contents. We use cookies to help with our contact forms and to track visitor usage using statistics software. By using and browsing our website, you consent to cookies being used in accordance with our policy. If you do not consent, you must disable cookies or refrain from using the web site. You can find details on how to disable cookies below.
How do we use Cookies?
We use the following 3 main types of cookies:
Strictly necessary cookies. These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website and enter into transactions.
Analytical/performance cookies. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.
Functionality cookies. These are used to recognise you when you return to our website. This enables us to personalise our content for you, greet you by name and remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region).
Are cookies dangerous?
Cookies are not harmful to your online enabled device. They are not computer programs and they cannot be executed as code or to disseminate viruses. Modern versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and other browsers will also allow users to set their own limitations to the number of cookies saved on their hard drives.
Can cookies threaten users' privacy?
Cookies are stored on the computer's hard drive. They cannot “read” the hard drive - so a cookie can't read other information saved on the hard drive nor obtain personal identity information such as an e-mail address. They only contain and transfer to the server as much information as the users themselves have disclosed to a certain web site.
A server cannot set a cookie for a domain that it is not a member but it’s not unusual for users to find in their computer files cookies from web sites that they have never visited. These cookies are usually set by companies that sell internet advertising on behalf of other web sites. Therefore, it may be possible that users' information is passed to third party web sites without the users' knowledge or consent, such as information on surfing habits. This is the most common reason for people rejecting or fearing cookies.
Are you able to block cookies?
By using and browsing our website, you consent to cookies being used in accordance with our policy. If you do not consent, you must disable cookies or refrain from using the web site.
You can block cookies by activating the setting on your browser that allows you to refuse the setting of all or some cookies. However, if you use your browser settings to block all cookies (including essential cookies) you may not be able to access all or parts of our site.
Please note that third parties (including, for example, advertising networks and providers of external services like web traffic analysis services) may also use cookies, over which we have no control. These cookies are likely to be analytical/performance cookies or targeting cookies.