Cookie policy

When we provide services, we want to make them easy, useful and reliable. Where services are delivered on the internet, this sometimes involves placing small amounts of information on your device, for example, a computer or mobile phone. These include small files known as cookies. They cannot be used to identify you personally.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files that websites save to your computer.

These pieces of information are used to improve services for you through, for example:

  • Remembering settings, so you don’t have to keep re-entering them whenever you visit a new page
  • Remembering information you’ve given (e.g. your postcode) so you don’t need to keep entering it
  • Measuring how you use the website so we can make sure it meets your needs

How we use cookies

The list below shows all of the cookies that are set by this website and the third-party services we use. If you have any queries about these cookies or would like more information about them, please get in touch.

First-party cookies (cookies set by us)

These are cookies set by this website. Some are necessary to the functionality of the site, others provide information to us that we analyse to monitor and improve the site. These first-party cookies do not store or collect any personal information or anything that makes you personally identifiable to us. Typically, the cookies generate a random, unique number to store information about a user.

If you have any further questions about our use of cookies please email us

First-party cookies (cookies set by us)
Name of cookieType of cookieExpiry periodReason for use of cookieDescription
chcookiePersistent cookie2 monthsAnalyticsUsed to improve our understanding of how people use our website and services, through web analytics
_pk_id.1.fc5dPersistent cookie2 yearsAnalyticsUsed to improve our understanding of how people use our website and services, through web analytics
_pk_ses.1.fc5dSession cookieAnalyticsUsed to improve our understanding of how people use our website and services, through web analytics
ch_sessionSession cookieAt end of sessionStrictly necessaryUsed to manage the items stored in your shopping basket or your progress through filing transactions
PIWIK_SESSIDSession cookie AnalyticsUsed to improve our understanding of how people use our website and services, through web analytics

Third-party cookies (cookies set by other websites through this site)

We want to provide interesting and engaging content on our website. On a number of pages we use ‘plug ins’ or embedded media. For example, we embed YouTube videos and Google Maps in many pages. The suppliers of these services may also set cookies on your device when you visit the pages where we have used this type of content. These are known as ‘third-party’ cookies.

Third-party cookies (cookies set by other websites through this site)
Name of cookieType of cookieExpiry periodReason for use of cookieDescription
NIDPersistent cookie6 monthsMediaThis cookie is set by Google Maps when you visit any of our pages which includes an embedded Google Map
PREFPersistent cookie2 yearsMediaThis cookie is set by Google Maps when you visit any of our pages which includes an embedded Google Map
testcookieSession cookie MediaThis cookie is set by Google Maps when you visit any of our pages which includes an embedded Google Map
khcookieSession cookie MediaThis cookie is set by Google Maps when you visit any of our pages which includes an embedded Google Map
SNIDPersistent cookie6 monthsMediaThis cookie is set by Google Maps when you visit any of our pages which includes an embedded Google Map
original_refererSession cookie Your visitThis cookie is set by Twitter when you load any of our pages that include a list of “Latest Tweets”
_twitter_sessSession cookie Social networkingThis cookie is set by Twitter when you load any of our pages that include a list of “Latest Tweets”
guest_idPersistent cookie2 yearsSocial networkingThis cookie is set by Twitter when you load any of our pages that include a list of “Latest Tweets”
kPersistent cookie1 weekSocial networkingThis cookie is set by Twitter when you load any of our pages that include a list of “Latest Tweets”
pidPersistent cookie2 yearsPerformance / NetworkingThis cookie is set by Twitter when you load any of our pages that include a list of “Latest Tweets”
PREFPersistent cookie10 yearsMediaThis cookie is set by YouTube when you load a video embedded on one of our pages
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVEPersistent cookie240 daysMediaThis cookie is set by YouTube when you load a video embedded on one of our pages
use_hitboxSession cookie MediaThis cookie is set by YouTube when you load a video embedded on one of our pages

How to control and delete cookies

We will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by our websites, or indeed any other website, you can do this through your browser settings. The ‘Help’ function within your browser should tell you how.

Alternatively, you may wish to visit the About Cookies website, which contains comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of browsers. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your machine as well as more general information about cookies.

Please be aware that restricting cookies may have an impact upon the functionality of our website.

If you wish to view your cookie code, just click on a cookie to open it. You’ll see a short string of text and numbers. The numbers are your identification card, which can only be seen by the server that gave you the cookie.

For information on how to do this on the browser of your mobile phone you will need to refer to your handset manual. To opt-out of third-parties collecting any data regarding your interaction on our website, please refer to their websites for further information.

Local Shared Objects (Flash cookies)

Some of our pages include videos embedded from YouTube, which uses the Adobe Flash Player. To improve user experience, Local Shared Objects – or Flash cookies as they are commonly known – are employed to provide features such as auto-resume and for saving your preferences. Flash cookies are stored on a user’s terminal much the same as cookies are, however it is not possible to manage them at browser level in the same way.