The Channel Islands has seven beaches among the Seaside Awards

Independent national charity Environmental Campaigns (ENCAMS) - organisers of the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign - has selected the island beaches for its annual seaside award.

They are among a record 332 beaches in Britain to receive the honour which recognises water quality, cleanliness of beach facilities and the availability of first aid.

All seven beaches selected are in Guernsey, with no award winners for Jersey.

Channel Islands award winners Cobo Bay L'Eree Bay Pembroke/L'Ancresse Bay Petit Bot Bay Port Soif Bay Portelet Bay Vazon Bay

The award winners have passed strict tests on beach management.

This includes making sure they provide first aid facilities, good access for disabled visitors and have sands that are free of litter and dog dirt.

The water has to be up to European Union minimum legal standards for cleanliness.

This information, together with details on all the facilities on offer at the beach, must be displayed on easy-to-read signs for the public to see.

ENCAMS regional director Amanda Booth said: "People don't just come to the beach to swim.

Clean beaches

"If you have got a young family you want lots of facilities as well and you want them to be clean and well-maintained.

"Our awards are special because they cover the whole beach experience and show they are really well managed."

Across the UK, 332 beaches received seaside awards this year, compared with 317 last year.

When the awards began in 1992, only 92 beaches made the grade.