MEIRIONNYDD is now home to two internationally recognised world-class beaches.

Last year, only Barmouth received the prestigious Blue Flag accolade, which recognises beaches that boast the highest quality of water, environmental education and management, safety and services, but has been joined this year by Tywyn.

The Blue Flag Award is a highly respected international award owned by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and runs in 49 countries across the world.

In Wales the awards are managed by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy which ensures its beaches remain the best in the world.

The announcement will be made later today in a national awards ceremony in Swansea.

The region also hosts three hidden-gem Green Coast Awards – Harlech, Llandanwg and Fairbourne – which are recognised for their ‘quiet and quaint beaches’.

However it was not all good news for the area as Aberdyfi, just minutes away from Tywyn, was one of only four beaches in Wales to have their water quality rated as ‘sufficient’ after it narrowly avoided receiving a ‘poor’ rating.

Natural Resources Wales, the agency responsible for checking water quality levels around Wales, has suggested that Aberdyfi’s bathing water can be subject to ‘short term pollution’.

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News