Mayor Joe Anderson has promised to crack down on sun bed salons after a skin cancer charity claimed it has received threats for warning people about artificial tanning.

The council leader said he would look at introducing planning policies to stop the proliferation of sun beds on Liverpool's high streets following a concerning report from Melanoma UK.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer, and there are thought to be about 80 cases in Liverpool per year.

Mayor Anderson said new rules could include forcing salons to make the dangers of using sunbeds clear to customers in a similar style to cigarette packaging.

He made the comments after Gillian Nuttall, founder of Melanoma UK, claimed the charity was under "severe pressure" from the Sunbed Association over its campaign to ban sunbeds - a claim the trade body disputes.

Speaking at a Health and Wellbeing Board meeting in the Town Hall on Thursday, Ms Nuttall said: "We don't know where to go from here because they have had a debate [in parliament] based on the work we have done,

"We are under severe pressure from the Sunbed Association. They have threatened us with legal proceedings, instructed lawyers to come after us. Luckily my background is in law. It's stressful, we don't need it.

He said: "I am more than happy to look at how we can raise the profile of melanoma and the link to sunbeds. There are issues of course around what we can and what we can't do because of national legislation.

"I will look at ways in which planning can limit the proliferation of them or insist that if they open up shop, they have to have a statement that informs people of the risks.

For the full story read more about Mayor Joe Anderson and his pledge to help.