Beaches around the country

In 2004, 13 beaches in Wales failed a test of EC water quality standards according to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), compared to six in 2003.

Of the 185 beaches surveyed in Wales in 2004, just 91 were recommended for excellent water quality, down from 97 the previous year.

Pollution caused by 2004's heavy summer rain was blamed for the decline.

The findings are published in the MCS' Good Beach Guide 2005, which focuses solely on water quality and the risk of sewage pollution, rather than beach management.

WALES' FAILING BEACHES Abergele-Towyn, Conwy Traeth Bach, Anglesey Plas Menai, Gwynedd Abererch, Gwynedd Criccieth-West End, Gwynedd Carreg Wen, Gwynedd Ynyslas-Northern Groyne, Ceredigion Llanina, Ceredigion Patch, Ceredigion Abercastle, Pembrokeshire Ferryside Beach, Carmarthenshire Swansea Bay-County Hall Penarth

Of UK beaches surveyed in 2004, 52 failed the EC mandatory water quality standard test, compared to 26 in 2003.

The number of MCS recommended beaches UK-wide has also fallen for the first time since the Good Beach Guide adopted its current standards criteria in 1997.

The MSC said it "wouldn't advise" swimming at these beaches due to the levels of pollution.

In Wales three beaches, Carreg Wen, in Gwynedd, Llanina in Ceredigion and Abercastle in Pembrokeshire failed for the second successive year.

But the MCS said it believed any extra pollution was as a result of the wet summer last year.

'Situation improved'

The charity, which protects the marine environment and its wildlife, said that sewage is discharged into coastal waters at times of heavy rainfall to avoid floodwater overwhelming local sewage treatment plants.

Richard Harrington, communications manager of the MCS, told BBC Wales: "Wales' beaches are still very good - the worse results this year are to be expected because of the wet summer.

"It's almost certainly because there was more rain falling that the sewage system filled to capacity and the authorities have to let it out somewhere - it tends to be out to sea."

But Mr Harrington added that Welsh beaches' water quality was continuing to improve long-term.

He said: "Five years ago, were recording just handfuls of beaches we could recommend for their water quality.