We have 50 beaches in Wales where the water quality is of a blue flag standard

Robin Gwyn, Wales Tourist Board spokesman

It is understood the tourist board had confused the blue flag scheme and the Green Coast award, which operates only in Wales.

Cemlyn Bay is one example of a beach that has blue flag quality water, but does not have the facilities to qualify for blue flag status.

A WTB spokesman said the difficulties lay in the guidelines laid down.

"We realised that if we were to achieve 50 beaches we would have to overdevelop some of our finest beaches," said Robin Gwyn of the WTB.

"There were some popular beaches where we could upgrade the water quality but others that are more remote that would not merit concreting over and putting up car parks and shops.

'Remote, idyllic'

Mr Gwyn added: "We have 50 beaches in Wales where the water quality is of a blue flag standard.

"What we do not have is the right to fly 50 blue flags because some of the beaches are remote, idyllic and they do not have some of the modern, onshore facilities that would be required."

Despite the discrepancy, Wales still leads the UK for the most number of blue flag beaches.

Wynne Williams, of the Keep Wales Tidy Campaign, said the developments in recent years were positive.

"Local authorities are beginning to see the light in keeping the infrastructure clean and we are beginning to see the fruits of that."