I wanted a tan but ended up in agony

0 Comments | Yorkshire Evening Post (Leeds, England), March 11, 2003

BY ALISON BELLAMY

THIS IS Mandy Lumb ... and those burns on her face were, she says, caused by spending just NINE MINUTES on a sunbed.

A council safety inquiry is under way. But the salon which the mum-of-three says she visited denies any knowledge of her complaint.

Miss Lumb says she saw a special offer outside the A Touch of Sun salon on Easterly Road, Oakwood, Leeds, promoting a [pounds sterling]10 charge for a total of seven 12-minute sessions on a vertical sun bed. But after just nine minutes, she alleges, she was left in agony.

The 39-year-old from Seacroft said: "I have been using sunbeds for 15 years and have never known anything like it. After nine minutes on the stand up tubes I was ready for collapsing. I was bright red and burning and really sore. My doctor says I am badly burned and has given me anti-biotic cream.

"I am just worried that I will be scarred. The skin under my eyes is blistering." Miss Lumb says she wanted just a little bit of colour on her skin after someone said she looked pale.

Miss Lumb, who still has her appointment card from her visit, is now considering taking legal action and has complained to Leeds City Council's health and safety department, which is investigating.

Paul Robinson, one of the owners of A Touch of Sun which opened four months ago, said: "I dispute that this woman ever attended the salon. There is no proof she came here at all. As for the appointment card it could have come from anywhere."

Denial

Miss Lumb claimed she had spoken to Mr Robinson on the telephone but he denied the claim.

A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said: "I can confirm that council Health and Safety officers are investigating the matter and have visited Miss Lumb and the premises.

"In all businesses, the underlying responsibility for the health and safety of all employees, customers and visitors alike, lies with the owner.

"It is their responsibility to offer appropriate advice and protection.

"Council health and safety inspectors have powers to follow up complaints, investigate incidents and carry out routine inspections at approximately 20,000 commercial workplaces in Leeds."

alison.bellamy@ypn.co.uk