Children face sunbed ban in England and Wales

(VojtechVlk/shutterstock.com)

Under-18s in England and Wales could be banned from using sunbeds in tanning salons because of the risk of cancer under government-backed proposals announced Wednesday.

Cancer Research UK says people who first use a sunbed under the age of 35 increase their risk of developing skin cancer later by 75 percent.

Now ministers and lawmakers want to take action to cut from over 100,000 the number of Britons diagnosed with skin cancer per year.

"The scientific evidence is clear - sunbeds increase your risk of getting skin cancer," said Health Secretary Andy Burnham.

"It is far too easy for young people to use sunbeds and I am determined to take action to protect them."

Figures show that six percent of English children aged between 11 and 17 have used a sunbed - with the figure rising to 11 percent in the less sunny north of England.

The bill is backed by celebrities including Nicola Roberts of pop band Girls Aloud.

It has a limited chance of being passed due to a lack of parliamentary time as it was originally proposed by a backbench lawmaker, Labour's Julie Morgan. But the government's backing increases the chance of success.

More than 2,600 people die from skin cancer every year in Britain.