Our site, like many other websites, use small files called cookies to allow our website to operate and to improve the website experience.

 

"A cookie is a small file, typically of letters and numbers, downloaded on to a device when the user accesses certain websites. Cookies are then sent back to originating website on each subsequent visit. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user’s device." – Text taken from ICO document ‘Guidance on the rules on use cookies and similar technologies’, dated 13 December 2011.

 

The following cookies will be used by Google Analytics;

 

_utma - Used by Google Analytics to capture and determine unique visitors and the frequency of views. __utma is written to the browser on your first visit to a site (from the browser being used). (2 year expiry)

 

_utmb - Used by Google Analytics to establish and continue your session on the site. Each time you visit a page it is updated to expire in 30 minutes. It expires if you spend more than 30 minutes on a single page. (30 minute expiry)

 

_utmc - Previously used by Google Analytics javascript to define a session status. (6 month expiry)

 

_utmz - Used by Google Analytics to store the type of referral used to reach the site; e.g. direct, link, web search, etc. (Expires on exit of browser)