Environmental campaigners have launched a campaign to "clean up" Scotland's beaches.

Friends of the Earth (FoE) Scotland said the move followed a recent report which found that many of the beaches recognised as being used by the public are in "a shocking state".

The group has urged the Scottish Executive to restart its Bathing Waters Review Panel to improve hygiene standards.

FoE Scotland says more action is needed

According to a European Commission Report, 15% of Scottish beaches failed basic pollution safety standards compared with 12.1% in France, 3.4% in Italy, 2% in Spain and less than 1% in Greece and Germany.

Scotland's failure rate was also found to be more than three times higher than the UK average of 4.7%.

FoE Scotland's campaign will also focus on beaches that are known to be used by the public but not afforded official recognition.

It is urging the public to send photographs of people using such beaches to FoE Scotland, who will then forward the photographs to the executive.

Dr Richard Dixon, FoE's head of research, said: "The shocking state of many of Scotland's beaches is often overlooked because usually it is only the UK's overall figures that are published.

"These figures make clear that Scotland is falling well short in tackling beach pollution compared to our European partners and the rest of the UK.

Blue flag beaches

"We want to get proper protection for all of Scotland's beaches.

"We are urging every community living near a beach that is not on the official list to collect evidence of the beach in use."

Dr Dixon said FoE was keen to see pictures of people using the water at Broughty Ferry, Largs, Helensburgh, Achmelvich Bay, Brora, Embo, Golspie and Strathy Bay.

He added: "We know there are plenty of other beaches out there which should be on this list of official beaches

"We will be calling on the Scottish Executive again to revive the Bathing Waters Review Panel and recognise all of Scotland's bathing beaches."

The executive is awaiting new EU guidance

Last week Scotland's five blue flag beaches retained the right to fly the cleanliness standard.

The beaches, four of which are in Fife, were among 83 British beaches to have met the tough European guidelines this year.

The five beaches are: Aberdour, Silver Sands, Fife; Burntisland, Fife; Elie Harbour, Fife; St Andrews, West Sands, Fife; and Nairn, Moray.

An executive spokesman said it was awaiting instructions on a new European directive on standards.

He said: "It would be premature for us to revive the panel when we don't know what the new directive will contain.

"Once we have got these proposals we will be in a better position to consider what we can do in Scotland."

He stressed that the executive remained committed to improving Scotland's coastline and the figures quoted did not reflect the "massive investment" in water treatment and sewage.