CEREDIGION has lost one of its six prestigious Blue Flag beach awards.

Aberystwyth North, Borth, Llangrannog, New Quay Harbour and Tresaith retain their Blue Flags but Aberporth misses out after water quality was affected by heavy rain last summer.

However, Aberporth won a Seaside Award, as did Aberystwyth South, Clarach and Traeth y Dolau, Cilborth, Llanrhystud, Mwnt and Penbryn.

Across Wales 47 beaches have won Blue Flags, which rate beaches on cleanliness, safety, facilities and water quality, while 83 beaches have scooped Keep Britain Tidy’s Seaside Award, which recognises high standards in cleanliness and facilities.

Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton said the awards recognised the work in helping to keep beaches across Britain tidy, especially with growing focus on the problems caused by plastic.

She said: “Keep Britain Tidy leads the fight to create clean, plastic-free beaches.

“We are committed to creating a great environment on our doorstep for everyone to enjoy and offering a quality mark that shows everyone just how fantastic our beaches can be. It’s brilliant to see so many beaches in Wales and the rest of the country winning Blue Flag and Seaside Award status this year, thanks to dedication and hard work of beach staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards.”

Cllr Gareth Lloyd, the council’s Cabinet member for economic development and tourism, said: “Once again, Ceredigion’s beaches have been recognised to be amongst the best, not only in Wales, but worldwide.

“The awards are a mark of quality and it’s great to see Blue Flags and Seaside Awards flags flying at Ceredigion’s most popular bathing beaches again this year."

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