Wales now has 33 Blue Flag beaches

The European award for well-managed beaches has been given to 105 beaches this year - almost twice as many as in 2000.

Among the new entries for 2003 are Cleethorpes, Colwyn Bay, Keynes Country Park and St Ives Porthminster.

Wales leads the way by region, with 33 beaches getting flags for clean water, management and visitor facilities.

The south-west of England has 22 clean beaches and the south-east 15, with eight first time winners.

BLUE FLAGS BY REGION Wales: 33 Scotland: 4 N Ireland: 5 South-West:22 South-East: 15 North-West: 0 Guide to UK's Blue Flag beaches

Scotland has four - Aberdour, Burntisland, Elie and St Andrews - one down from last year, with Nairn Central missing out.

Northern Ireland has five - two down from last year. Its lack of progress was blamed on a lack of investment in cleaning up the water.

The north-west of England did not fare very well either, with no awards in the region which covers popular tourist beaches such as Blackpool and Morecambe.

Kiss-me-quick image

The Blue Flags are awarded by Encams, an environmental campaigns group which also organises Keep Britain Tidy.

Sue Nelson, director of Encams, told the BBC the increase was "something to celebrate" - and proof that the image of British beaches should be changing.

Aberporth beach in Wales was already a Blue Flag holder

"There's still a bit of persistence of the kiss-me-quick hats and the chips and the dog poo on the beach, and actually in reality that's changed quite a lot... there are many beautiful, beautiful beaches."

The 105 figure is up 22 on last year's record of 83 and is almost double the figure achieved in 2000.

Water Minister Elliot Morley said he was "delighted" by the number of beaches being awarded, and put it down to national efforts to clean coastal waters.

"The �600m investment programme in bathing water quality improvements across England and Wales to 2005 has resulted in the continued improvement of our bathing water quality in recent years," he said.

Lifeguards and litter

"It is all the more pleasing that these efforts are being recognised by this prestigious international award scheme."

The Blue Flag has become the definitive international measure of beaches since it began back in 1987 - when only 14 beaches won the award.

It measures everything from accessibility for disabled visitors through to the number of bins provided, lifeguards and litter left on the beach.

Water must be clean enough to have achieved the highest standard defined by European Law.

Award winners can fly a Blue Flag during the bathing season.

Click here to send us your comments on your favourite beach.

It's distressing that Cornwall only managed two. For a region blessed with a fine coastline, it should do more for itself, maybe use some of its car park monies to clean up its act. Global warming means a great British resort revival, it has to be done with care. I am from Aberdovey, Mid-Wales which has a wonderful beach. Now living in London: Say no more.
John Parry, UK

I've just recovered after falling ill from surfing last Saturday Scott, UK

Blue flags should be issued throughout the year, not just in the summer months. Beaches are getting increasingly busy throughout the winter due to the popularity of water sports. Croyde Bay has just been awarded the blue flag: Strange as I've just recovered after falling ill from surfing there last Saturday. There was an abundance of litter on the beach, in the sea and a large amount of dogs on a supposedly 'dog restricted' beach. Remember, just because the beach has been awarded the blue flag doesn't mean the water's 100% safe/clean to be in!
Scott, UK

Our favourite has to be Llanddwyn Island in Anglesey, Wales. There is no car park and it's a long walk, but don't tell anybody about it in case it gets discovered! There are lots of lovely beaches in Wales. The Lleyn Peninsular is like Brittany without the tourists.
John Hadland, England

This is just propaganda. I fail to see how this country can have so many unsafe beaches and then - post-mad cow disease and all the other factors that stopped tourists visiting this country - all of a sudden, everything is fine. I think the Tourist Board is trying to encourage people to visit even though nothing has changed because of the substantial loss in income. Nothing has changed - don't go there!
Bebe Hunter, New Zealand

I think that Littlehampton is one of the cleanest beaches because they are always cleaning. So I think it is a clean beach.
Danny, London

Tentsmuir, Fife. Miles of sand, very few people, seals! And you can see Dundee from the beach, which means I can't be at work.
Judith Sleeman, Scotland

I live in Blackpool, and you wouldn't catch me going anywhere NEAR the sea. Let alone take kids there. The risk of catching something is probably more than the risk of terrorism, just go abroad.
Steven, UK

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