Water quality at 22 British resorts is said to be failing to comply with minimum public health standards.

Environmental campaigners have accused the government of trying to get away with spending the least money possible on keeping British beaches clean.

But ministers say �7bn has been spent in the last decade on improving the quality of bathing water.

EU countries were all supposed to have brought their beaches up to the required standard by 1985.

European Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom has accused the UK Government of "foot dragging".

If the judgement goes against Britain, the government could face fines of up to �70,000 a day.

Gaining Blue Flags

This year 55 UK beaches were awarded the European Blue Flag for clean water and sound environmental management.