England’s best beaches have been revealed as campaigners hailed the “Attenborough effect” for an increase in awards for being safe and clean.
Keep Britain Tidy has announced the winners of 71 Blue Flags and 137 Seaside Awards – an increase of 18 beaches on 2018.
The awards are quality marks for beaches and mean they are clean, safe and meet high environmental and bathing water quality standards.
It comes as a survey by Keep Britain Tidy found more than half (54%) of people said nature documentaries fronted by Sir David Attenborough had encouraged them to personally clear up discarded litter.
Sky News has also been running its successful Ocean Rescue campaign to cut plastic pollution and clean up our oceans.
Allison Ogden-Newton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: “We as individuals feel emotionally connected to the environment more than ever, with so many experiencing eco-anxiety.
“We’re incredibly pleased to have even more winners this year than last, proving the great dedication of the beach staff.
The 71 beaches awarded Blue Flags in 2019 are:
East Midlands
Ingoldmells South
Central Beach, Mablethorpe
Central Beach, Skegness
Central Beach, Sutton on Sea
Cleethorpes Central
East of England
Cromer
Sea Palling
Sheringham
Mundesley
East Runton
West Runton
East Beach, Shoeburyness
Shoebury Common
Thorpe Bay
Three Shells Beach, Southend
Dovercourt Bay
Brightlingsea
North East and Yorkshire
Tynemouth Longsands
King Edwards Bay
Whitley Bay
Roker
Seaburn
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Humber
Whitby
South East
Brighton Central
Hove Lawns
Tankerton
Marina St Leonards
Hayling Island Beachlands
Sheerness Beach
Minster Leas
Minnis Bay
West Bay
St Mildreds
Botany Bay
Margate Main Sands
Stone Bay
Westbrook Bay
West Wittering Beach
South West
Blackpool Sands (Devon)
Poole Sandbanks Peninsular
Poole Shore Road
Poole Canford Cliffs
Poole Branksome Chine
Alum Chine
Bournemouth Manor Steps
Durley Chine
Fisherman’s Walk
Southbourne
Carbis Bay
Gyllyngvase
Porthmeor
Great Western (Cornwall)
Porthtowan
Trevone Bay
Widemouth Bay
Sandy Bay
Exmouth
Challaborough Bay
Croyde Bay
Swanage Central
Dawlish Warren
Teignmouth Town
Breakwater Beach Torbay
Broadsands Torbay
Meadfoot Beach Torbay
Oddicombe Beach Torbay
Preston Sands Torbay
Torre Abbey Sands Torbay
Westward Ho!
Weymouth Central
:: Sky’s Ocean Rescue campaign encourages people to reduce their single-use plastics. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get involved at www.skyoceanrescue.com.
Source: Sky News :