Fluorescent Tubing Question

Hey guys, I hear all this jib-jab about T5's and the like, and I've literally just been down to my local DIY store, and they have some in, however (this may sound stupid) but how are these bulbs/tubes connected to a mains plug? Surely they need a ballast but I couldn't find any there. Surely wiring them directly to a mains socket would be dangerous.

Bear in mind I'm from the UK thus I'm on 230v and AC.

Any help? A picture of what is needed would be handy

Hello partner ...

Normalmete the fluorescent lamps that are ... are composed of the reflector, primer bulb,, trasformador, and then the tubes is when you can plug in to a 230v otherwise estallarian a greeting ..

Hmm.. well I couldn't find a kit with them all - only on the internet which would work out more expensive than doing it myself (I think.)


Any other ideas?

Anyone?...