Clothing designed to protect people from the sun is almost 100 per cent effective, according to a trading standards survey.

Trading standards officers examined 32 items of sun protective clothing, from hats and trousers to scuba suits for adults and children.

The manufacturers claimed their products offered a very high protection from the harmful rays of the sun. Some claimed to have protection of up to factor 50.

A group of officers, including some from Oxfordshire, tested the clothing. David Stibbert, Oxfordshire's chief trading standards officer said: "I am very pleased with the results of the survey."