This can get a bit technical but it is necessary legally. It involves website and techy stuff behind them but I hope to make this as simple as possible!
What’s A Cookie?
A website cookie (as apposed to what the Americans of you call a biscuit!) is a small piece of information that is stored on your computer which records how you move your way around a website. When you revisit that website it can present tailored options based on the information about your last visit. Cookies can also be used to analyse traffic and for advertising and marketing purposes.
Cookies are used by nearly all websites and do not harm your computer. They help the website provide a better user experience.
Settings in your web browsers allow you to block cookies. However, if block all cookies, including essential cookies you may not be able to access all or parts of our website.
- Keep track of what is in your shopping basket if you purchase something.
- Provide anonymised website usage data to third party applications like Google Analytics.
Different Types Of Cookies
- Session cookies: these are only stored on your computer during your web session and are automatically deleted when you close your browser, they usually store an anonymous session ID allowing you to browse a website without having to log in to each page but they do not collect any personal data from your computer; or
- Persistent cookies: a persistent cookie is stored as a file on your computer and it remains there when you close your web browser. The cookie can be read by the website that created it when you visit that website again. We use persistent cookies for Google Analytics.
Are Cookies Necessary?
– Strictly necessary cookies: These cookies are essential to enable you to use the website effectively, such as when buying a product and / or service, and therefore cannot be turned off. Without these cookies, the services available to you on our website cannot be provided. These cookies do not gather information about you that could be used for marketing or remembering where you have been on the internet.
– Performance cookies: These cookies enable us to monitor and improve the performance of our website. For example, they allow us to count visits, identify traffic sources and see which parts of the site are most popular.
Functionality cookies: These cookies allow our website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced features. For instance, we may be able to provide you with news or updates relevant to the services you use. They may also be used to provide services you have requested such as viewing a video or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect is usually anonymised.