Some websites use what are known as 'cookies'. These are small text files stored on your computer's hard disk that tell sites who you are when you visit them. They are used for things such as on-line shopping, banking and for tracking of orders you may have placed. It means that you usually do not have to re-enter your details when you visit sites.

Cookies are relatively harmless. Our site even uses them when people sign up to the website. It allows us to tailor the website so that it remembers who you are when you return to the site and provides you with direct access to your local information. The cookie doesn't contain any personal information.

It is possible to disable cookies from Internet Explorer by going to > Tools + Options menu or Navigator by going to > Edit + Preferences. In Opera > File + Preferences + Privacy. In Firefox > Tools + Options + Privacy. However you may find that some websites will not function correctly unless you have cookies enabled.

Banner advertisements use cookies and if you click on them a company can build up a profile of the websites you visit often and the products that you like to purchase. It is up to the user whether they wish this sort of information to be built up about them. There is free software available that will allow you to block banner advertising, and some of the more recent browsers now have this feature built in as standard.