Beaches in south Essex have passed this year's stringent Environment Agency tests with flying colours.

All the coastal areas in Southend and Castle Point secured a high score in line with the European Commission's bathing water directive.

They also complied with the tighter guideline standards of the directive, which means they were proven to be cleaner over a longer period of time.

The announcement follows a successful round of tests last year - though many beaches which failed elsewhere in the country have shown significant improvement this time around.

Beaches complying with the bathing waters directive also increased for the ninth year running.

Barrie Harbott, water quality manager for the Anglian region, said: "Further improvements in sewage treatment delivered this year have helped to ensure our region's bathing waters are continuing to reach a high standard."

Southend's beaches were last month given a clean bill of health by Anglian Water, where figures showed the town's beaches passed strict European bathing standards.

The town can now join a list of 215 recommended beaches across the country listed in the Good Beach Guide, which it missed out on last year.

By Chris Weeks

Reporter's e-mail: chris.weeks@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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