Durness beach in the Highlands Enlarge Image

Thirty three of the country's 60 bathing spots received top marks after EU testing this summer, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency said.

Sepa said 57 beaches were given pass marks, compared to 56 last year and 57 in 2003.

Waters at Stonehaven, Nairn East and Eyemouth in the Borders failed bacteria tests.

Sepa said this was down to heavy rain in those areas, which caused storm sewage overflows into rivers and streams to run into the sea.

All beaches in south west Scotland and Ettrick Bay on the Isle of Bute passed for the first time since monitoring began 20 years ago.

We shouldn't be complacent and more needs to be done to maintain this and secure further improvements Dr Calum McPhail Sepa

Dr Calum McPhail, Sepa's environmental quality manager, said the figures were encouraging.

"There have been some significant achievements highlighted by this year's results," he said.

"But we shouldn't be complacent and more needs to be done to maintain this and secure further improvements."

Sepa said it was heartened that 95% of Scotland's beaches had been given a clean bill of health, compared to just half in 1998.

Beach investment

The agency also said that total bacteria in beach water had more than halved in the last five years.

In 2000, there were 388 counts of nasty microbes per 100ml compared to 166 this year.

The Scottish Executive said more holidaymakers could swim in the country's beaches safely.

Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin said: "The people of Scotland value our beaches very highly and I'm delighted to report continuing improvements.

"We have invested �1.6bn into improving the water infrastructure in Scotland since 2000. This is delivering real environmental improvements."