Clarach is one of Ceredigion's award winning beaches

And all the county's beaches are set for more improvements with nearly �1m of European money being spent on upgrading their facilities.

Fourteen beaches in the county have passed strict tests on beach management and can now fly the distinctive yellow and blue flag throughout this summer.

Four of the beaches have been nominated by the local authority to win the prestigious European Blue Flag award which will be announced in early June.

This money will enable us to start a programme of improvements at the county's most popular bathing beaches Ray Quant, Borth councillor

Small isolated beaches across the Ceredigion coastline have won the award along with beaches at resorts in Aberystwyth, New Quay, Aberporth and Tresaith which are also in contention for a Blue Flag award.

Borth county councillor, Ray Quant, is also the Ceredigion County Council member with responsibility for economic development, tourism and European matters.

Improvement programme

"This will be a welcome boost to the tourist industry in Ceredigion at the beginning of the holiday season," he said.

The authority last week received confirmation of the success of an Objective 1 bid for beach infrastructure improvements.

Ceredigion's share of the successful �5.4m Objective 1 European bid by Welsh local authorities is �924,000

"This money will enable us to start a programme of improvements at the county's most popular bathing beaches," added Mr Quant.

Aberporth beach is currently a Blue Flag holder

The improvements will include the upgrading of toilets at Borth and other beaches, improved beach access, more information and better safety provision.

Its hoped the changes will enable Ceredigion's beaches to keep up its award winning achievement this year.

Keep Wales Tidy runs the seaside awards scheme in Wales, which has won 103 seaside pennants, more than the English Riviera, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands put together.

Its director, Bob Gilchrist is in no doubt as to why Wales is leading the way in clean beaches.

"People respond to carrot rather than stick and the seaside awards has given them a clear standard to aim at," he said.

"There's also a lot at stake here, if our 750 miles of coastline are not up to scratch that means loss of revenue and jobs."

Ceredigion winners Aberystwyth North and South Aberporth Borth Clarach Cwmtydu Llangrannog Llangrannog, Cilborth Llanrhystud Mwnt New Quay, harbour beach New Quay, Dolau beach Penbryn Tresaith

Any beach achieving a Seaside Award this year will have passed strict tests on beach management.

These include ensuring first aid facilities, good access for disabled visitors and sands that are free of litter and dog fouling.

The water holidaymakers paddle and bathe in also has to conform to EU minimum legal standards.

This information together with details on all the facilities on offer at the beach must be displayed on easy-to-read signs.