Young people are risking their lives by indulging in “binge tanning”, a charity has warned.

More than a third of under-25s spend more than five hours a day in the sun on holiday, increasing their chances of developing life-threatening skin cancer, it said.

And many are willing to employ a range of tricks, including using baby oil, to speed up their tanning.

The poll, for Cancer Research UK, found that 36% of 15 to 24-year-olds spend more than five hours a day in the sun.

Almost a third (32%) of those polled said they would be happy to increase their time in the sun if they did not feel tanned enough towards the end of their break.

Around one in three (29%) would use sunscreen with a low factor to speed up their tanning, 19% would be happy to go without sunscreen altogether and 15% would use products like baby oil.

Around one in five (17%) think getting sunburnt is just part of the tanning process, while 11% would be prepared to burn if they did not feel tanned enough towards the end of their holiday.

Cancer Research UK dermatologist, Professor Lesley Rhodes, said: “Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the primary cause of skin cancer and responsible for around 80% of cases of melanoma, the most dangerous kind of skin cancer.

“In addition to the short term discomfort and impact on appearance, sunburn also causes permanent irreversible damage leading to premature ageing and significantly increases the risk of skin cancer.”

The poll comes after the charity also warned that people under 35 who use sunbeds are increasing their risk of skin cancer by up to 75%.

TV presenter, Denise van Outen, has said she scarred her face through using sunbeds when she was younger.

The 33-year-old began using the tanning beds in her teenage years and became addicted, she has said.

New guidelines from the Health and Safety Executive, which are still open to consultation, suggest a ban on sunbeds for the under-18s.