CONSTRUCTION workers in Worcester have mixed reactions about news that bare-chested builders could be forced to cover up in the sun.

After Thursday's vote in the European Parliament, national governments must now decide whether to enforce the Optical Radiation Directive, making builders and other outdoor workers cover-up.

Construction worker Robin Cambridge said it was up to the individual to make the decision to protect themselves from harmful rays, not politicians.

"To have to wear trousers instead of shorts would be awful and too hot in the summer," said the 38-year-old, of Somerville Road in Tolladine, Worcester.

"I wear sun cream anyway and we have to wear fluorescent jackets as company policy."

Builder Mark Bennett said that with the rise in cases of skin cancer, the idea was a positive step.

"Everybody should be made to cover up," said the 48-year-old, of Evesham. It's the same as having to put a hard hat on.

"It would make no difference to me, anybody that's got any sense covers up between the hours of 10 and three."

Colleague Marlon Butt, 25 of Cheltenham added: "It doesn't bother me because we're not allowed to go bear-topped or we just get thrown off the site.

"We work at schools and hospitals and people there don't want you running around with no tops on."

Fifty-one-year-old builder Les Thompson, of Jacomb Road in Lower Broadheath, near Worcester agreed.

"It's just sensible," he said. "I would have no problem with wearing long trousers, they could be light-weight."

Liberal Democrat MEP and shadow rapporteur for the directive, Liz Lynne has campaigned to get natural radiation removed from the directive, which is aimed at protecting workers from artificial radiation.

"A sensible directive to protect workers from artificial radiation could have been ruined by the ludicrous proposal to legislate on the sun," she said.

"How would you know whether a worker had contracted skin cancer from the workplace, back garden or the beach?"