The study found that a quarter of the sunglasses tested failed to meet British Standard safety checks or did not meet manufacturers' claims about protection against eye damage caused by the sun's rays. Les Oxer, policy officer at Hertfordshire trading standards office, said the public was much more alert to the danger of sunlight and the standards office wanted to encourage people to use sun protection and to be confident in the products being provided. Following an initial investigation undertaken last year on sunglasses at the cheaper end of the market - those from &\#163;2 upwards - a more extensive audit was conducted into the more prestigious end of the market. Of the 51 sunglasses purchased from a range of optical practices and sports shops, some costing up to &\#163;80, 13 failed to meet the safety claims made by manufacturers or did not meet UV protection requirements. 'Bold statements made by some 'names' were found to be untrue, said Mr Oxer, 'although some of the failures would have been marginal.' 'Where there was a breach of trading standards, the office would follow up to determine why, and the manufacturers would be given the opportunity to make modifications.' Trading standards officers recommended that people looking to buy sunglasses for the summer should look for those with 'CE' accreditation and British Standard EN 1836:1997, which indicates that they meet minimum European safety standards. They also advise that better eye protection is likely to be provided by sunglasses in the middle and upper price range. The European Committee of Standardisation has defined five classes of transmission, each with a corresponding minimum level of UV protection.