The Co-operative Pharmacy is continuing its work to protect homeless people against sun exposure this summer, supplying free sun care products at locations across the UK.

Working with organisation Sunwise, the group is supplying factor 30 sun cream and after sun to people via a range of organisations in 14 cities over the summer.

The two organisations are warning that even on cloudy days, ultra violet (UV) rays can have a harmful effect on the skin.

Mandeep Mudhar, head of NHS development at the Co-operative Pharmacy, said: “Our customers continually receive reminders about when and how they should apply their sun cream, but while the general public is encouraged to apply this liberally, for homeless people sun screen is not an affordable priority.”

The roll out of the scheme follows a successful trial in Cardiff in 2008 and the cities now involved include Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Brighton, Cardiff and Exeter.