The Blue Flag awards highlight the best and safest beaches

Thanet scooped a record number with seven beaches declared among the best in Europe, including Margate's Main Sands and Viking Bay in Broadstairs.

In Sussex, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton were also on the list of 120 top beaches in England and Wales.

Blue Flags also reward easy access to beaches and facilities.

For the fifth year, Minnis Bay in Thanet received the accolade, while Westbrook Bay retained its Blue Flag for the fourth consecutive year.

BLUE FLAG BEACHES Beach Street, Sheerness Birchington, Minnis Bay Bognor Regis, East of the Pier Eastbourne, Pier to Wish Tower Leysdown Littlehampton, Coastguards Margate, Main Sands St Mildred's Bay, Westgate Viking Bay, Broadstairs Walpole Bay, Margate Westbrook Bay, Margate West Bay, Westgate West Wittering

West Bay at Westgate was named for the second year in a row, while Margate Main Sands regained the Blue Flag that it last held in 2004.

But it was a first for St Mildred's Bay in Westgate, Walpole Bay in Margate, Viking Bay in Broadstairs, and Leysdown.

Councillor Roger Latchford, of Thanet District Council, described the awards as a "tremendous boost" for the tourism trade.

"This is a superb result and emphasises the importance that the council has placed on ensuring that our beaches are clean, the water quality is as high as it can be and that our internationally recognised coastline offers top quality facilities for both residents and visitors," he said.

Alan Woods, chief executive of the Blue Flag scheme, urged all beaches to enter the scheme or risk getting left behind.

He added: "British people make around 300 million trips to their coast each year and are increasingly attracted to Blue Flag beaches because they offer cleaner sand and seawater and better facilities.

"For any beach to compete in this more discerning age it must offer quality and I would urge all those who haven't entered the award or have been unable to meet its strict criteria to strive harder or risk being left behind."