By Alex Kirby BBC News Online environment correspondent

Good UK beaches hit a new record in 2002

Record numbers of UK beaches have made it into the 2003 Good Beach Guide, with over half qualifying for inclusion.

The improvement on 2002 is the largest annual rise in the guide's 16-year history.

Recommended beaches must meet the highest European guideline water quality standard and be free of inadequately treated sewage.

The guide's publishers say more work is needed to tackle all sources of bacterial pollution.

The compilers of the guide, published by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), reviewed the results of bathing water quality monitoring from 812 UK beaches.

The measurements were taken fortnightly throughout the summer bathing season.

Double hurdle

They say 421 beaches (52%) met the MCS criteria for clean bathing. Beaches failing to meet the European minimum standard numbered 53 (7%), the lowest number ever.

The water quality standards used in the guide are based on the bacterial indicator levels set by the European Commission's Bathing Water Directive, though the MCS recommended beaches must achieve stricter criteria.

Sewage can contaminate bathing beaches badly

They must achieve a 100% pass of the EC mandatory standard, and pass its 20 times higher guideline standard as well.

Additionally, they must not be affected by any continuous sewage outfalls that discharge raw, screened or primary treated sewage.

The mandatory standard is based on levels of faecal and total coliforms, which indicate the presence of pollution from human sewage or livestock faeces.

The MCS says there is now increasing scientific evidence that these microbiological standards are not stringent enough to minimise the risk of contracting a serious illness. The guideline standard also tests for faecal streptococci.

It says continuing improvements in sewage treatment and in ways to tackle diffuse pollution from sources like run-off from farmland have helped to achieve record water quality improvements in most of the UK.

Bathers' choice

The exceptions are Northern Ireland, north-west England and the Isle of Man.

Juliette Camburn of the MCS said: "The society is very pleased with the further improvement in bathing water quality this year, and the wide geographical range of beaches recommended in the guide.

UK beaches like Blackpool's are now healthier

"Particularly encouraging is the decrease in beaches that failed the EC minimum standard for water quality.

"However, there are still areas affected by bacterial pollution from both sewage and diffuse sources, and the guide allows the public to make an informed choice about where and whether to bathe."

She told BBC News Online: "The Environment Agency has had some positive results in parts of England and Wales in tackling agricultural run-off.

Pushing for progress

"It's been suggesting ways of limiting the pollution, like buffer strips round fields, or not letting animals graze near river banks. The feedback from the farmers has been positive."

There is a proposal for a new bathing water directive, which would include more emphasis on providing public information, and a stricter single standard for both fresh and coastal waters.

The MCS says it plans to lobby to ensure the proposal "does not falter at the last hurdle".

It says a comprehensive strategy is needed that will tackle all sources of bacterial pollution, including storm water overflows.