What is a cookie?

A cookie is a simple text file that is stored on a user's computer (or mobile device) that is created when a user visits a website using a program called a browser (for example Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari).

A cookie isn't a program itself and doesn't actively do anything on a user's computer. A cookie cannot be used to identify a user personally but they do contribute to improving a user's experience of a website.

A cookie simply allows the website to read the contents of the cookie text file. The text file itself simply contains a unique identifier code; the site name and some digits and numbers.

Why are Cookies used?

Most websites will use cookies in order to improve the user experience by enabling the website to ërememberí the user, either for the duration of the visit or for repeat visits.

Cookies do lots of different jobs, such as:

remembering what items a user may have added to a shopping basket or an itinerary as the user moves between pages on a website
saving a user's preferences to allow them to customise a website
measuring what users do on a website to ascertain which parts of a website are popular, how long they spend on a website, how often users return, where they come from etc

What Cookies are used by this site?

Cookies are set by this website (first party cookies) but may also be set by other websites (e.g. You Tube) that run content on the website's pages (third party cookies).

Cookies can be set to remember a visitor for the duration of their visit (session cookies) or to remember a visitor for repeat visits (persistent cookies).

Here are the standard cookies used by this website:

First Party Cookies

Cookie Name: ASPSESSIONID*
ASP.NET_* Issued by: this website Cookie type / purpose: Identification. These cookies identify a user, making it easier for them to use the dynamic features of the site without having to provide the same information again as they move from one page to another. Duration: Non-persistent ësessioní cookie (until the website browser is closed).

Cookie Name: Google Analytics
__utma Issued by:
Cookie type / purpose: Performance: to measure and improve site quality through analysis of visitor behaviour. Duration:Persistent: 2 years from when set or updated.

Cookie Name: Google Analytics
__utmb
__utmc Issued by:
Cookie type / purpose: Performance: These cookies are used to record how long a visitor remains on the site. Used to measure and improve site quality through analysis of visitor behaviour. Duration: Session (until the website browser is closed).

Cookie Name: Google Analytics
__utmz Issued by: this website Cookie type / purpose: Performance: This cookie is used to record where a visitor came from - e.g. search engine traffic, ad campaigns and page navigation. Used to measure and improve site quality through analysis of visitor behaviour. Duration: Persistent: 6 months from when set or updated.

Third party Cookies

Cookie Name: ASPSESSIONID Issued by: sharedjs.nmspace.net Cookie type / purpose: These cookies identify a user, making it easier for them to use the dynamic features of the site without having to provide the same information again as they move from one page to another. Duration: Session (until the website browser is closed).