function validateEnewsOnSubmit(theForm) {
var reason = "";

  reason += validateFirstname(theForm.firstname);
  reason += validateSurname(theForm.surname);
  reason += validateEmail(theForm.email);
  reason += validatePostcode(theForm.postcode);
      
  if (reason != "") {
    alert("Some fields need correction:\n" + reason);
    return false;
  }

  else
  return true;
}

function validateFirstname(fld) {
    var error = "";
    var illegalChars = /\W/; // allow letters, numbers, and underscores
 
    if (fld.value == "") {
        fld.style.background = '#fdafd0'; 
        error = "Please enter your Firstname.\n";
    } 	
	else {
        fld.style.background = 'White';
    }
    return error;
}

function validateSurname(fld) {
    var error = "";
    var illegalChars = /\W/; // allow letters, numbers, and underscores
 
    if (fld.value == "") {
        fld.style.background = '#fdafd0'; 
        error = "Please enter your Surname.\n";
    } 	
	else {
        fld.style.background = 'White';
    }
    return error;
}

function trim(s)
{
  return s.replace(/^\s+|\s+$/, '');
}
function validateEmail(fld) {
    var error="";
    var tfld = trim(fld.value);                        // value of field with whitespace trimmed off
    var emailFilter = /^[^@]+@[^@.]+\.[^@]*\w\w$/ ;
    var illegalChars= /[\(\)\<\>\,\;\:\\\"\[\]]/ ;
   
    if (fld.value == "") {
        fld.style.background = '#fdafd0';
        error = "You didn't enter an email address.\n";
    } else if (!emailFilter.test(tfld)) {              //test email for illegal characters
        fld.style.background = '#fdafd0';
        error = "Please enter a valid email address.\n";
    } else if (fld.value.match(illegalChars)) {
        fld.style.background = '#fdafd0';
        error = "The email address contains illegal characters.\n";
    } else {
        fld.style.background = 'White';
    }
    return error;
}

function validatePostcode(fld) {
    var error = "";
    var illegalChars = /\W/; // allow letters, numbers, and underscores
 
    if (fld.value == "") {
        fld.style.background = '#fdafd0'; 
        error = "Please enter your Postcode.\n";
    } 	
	else {
        fld.style.background = 'White';
    }
    return error;
}