Seven people clean Eastbourne beach on a daily basis

Leysdown beach on the Isle of Sheppey, in Kent, has returned to the list after previously losing its flag.

In Sussex, the shoreline around Eastbourne is among beaches praised.

To gain an award from Encams, which run the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, beaches are tested for water quality, general cleanliness and public facilities.

Encams said visitors should be encouraged that the beach in Eastbourne was cleaned by seven people eight hours a day, seven days a week.

Hand litter pickers

Coastal director Angela Howard highlighted the fact the resort employs three extra people in the summer to clean for three hours each a day.

"This means there are 455 hours of cleaning a week in the summer," she said.

"With mechanical diggers, hand litter pickers and an army of other cleaners doing a fantastic job, a Seaside Award beach really does equal a clean beach," she said.

The beaches in Kent allowed to fly the coveted yellow and blue flag include Botany Bay and Joss Bay in Broadstairs, the Main Sands, Walpole Bay and Westbrook Bay in Margate, and Minnis Bay in Birchington.

Those in Sussex to have reached the required standard include Camber Sands, Bexhill-on-Sea, Birling Gap, Bognor Regis and Worthing.