Cookies are text files containing small amounts of information which are downloaded to your device when you visit a website, usually kept in temporary Internet folders on your computer. They’re useful since they record the way you use our site and help us to get to know you better.
It means, for example, that we can recognise you when you return to the site and remember your preferences and that means we can give you a more personal service and speed up your searches.
Of course, you don’t have to accept cookies. Most browsers help you refuse cookies through a setting on your browser’s menu. However, if you do select this setting, it might mean you can’t access certain parts of our site.
These links explain how you can control cookies via your browser, but remember that if you turn off cookies in your browser then these settings apply to all websites not just this one:
How do cookies work?
Cookies are sent back to the original website on any subsequent visit or if you go to another website that recognises that cookie.
Cookies do a lot of jobs, like letting you navigate between pages efficiently, remembering your preferences, and generally improving your website experience. They’ll also make sure the ads you see online are more relevant.
There are four kinds of cookies:
Category 1 - Strictly necessary cookies
These are critical to help you move around the site and use its features, like accessing secure areas. Without these cookies, some services simply can’t be provided. This is the kind of cookie our site uses.
Category 2 - Performance cookies
These collect information about how you use a website, like the pages you go to most often, but not information that identifies you. They collect anonymous, aggregated data that’s used to boost website performance. By using our website and online services, you agree that we can place these cookies on your device.
Category 3 - Functionality cookies
These cookies allow the website to remember any choices you’ve made (like user name and password) and provide a host of enhanced, more personal features. They’ll also remember any changes you’ve made to text size, fonts and other parts of the website as well as providing a service you’ve asked for, like watching a video or commenting on a blog. Collecting information anonymously, these cookies can’t track your browsing on other websites. Again, when you use a website or online services, you’ll agree that they can place these cookies on your device.
Category 4 - targeting cookies or advertising cookies
These cookies are used to deliver adverts more relevant to you. They also limit the number of times you see an ad as well as measuring the effectiveness of the ads you do see. They remember that you’ve visited a website too, and that information is sometimes shared with other organisations such as advertisers. Often targeting or advertising cookies are linked to functions on the site that other organisations provide.
Occasionally we post links to other websites and once you visit another site through one of these links, that site should explain how they use cookies on their site.
You’ll find out more about cookies by visiting www.allaboutcookies.org or www.youronlinechoices.eu