England can now boast more Blue Flag beaches than Cyprus or Mexico, according to Keep Britain Tidy.
English beaches are also now ranked in the global top 10 for Blue Flag beaches.
Keep Britain Tidy announced today that a total of 61 beaches, four more than last year, have achieved the international Blue Flag cleanliness standard.
In addition, 111 English beaches have received the Seaside Award, Keep Britain Tidy’s own seal of approval for beaches.
Two of the country’s most popular areas for holidaymakers, Thanet in Kent and Cornwall, have achieved the most Blue Flags this year, with seven each.
New recipients of the Blue Flag Award this year include Hunstanton Main, Bridlington North and Ramsgate Main Sands. Torbay in Devon can claim the most Seaside Awards with a total of 10, closely followed by Cornwall with nine awards.
Keep Britain Tidy’s coastal award manager, Paul Todd, said: “It is great to be able to celebrate another fantastic year for the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards.
“As an environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy is committed to improving the quality of the places where people live, work and holiday and these winners have proved their commitment to providing the best possible beaches for locals and visitors alike.
“The public can be sure, if they visit a Blue Flag or Seaside Award winning beach, that they are visiting one of the best beaches in the world.“