Two prestigious European Blue Flags could be flying high over Tendring's beaches within three years.

Dovercourt looks set to get one next year and after an encouraging set of water quality results, Clacton could follow suit by 2003.

Last year, Clacton's Groyne 41 twice failed to meet the required standard by quite a distance - one of only two failures in the Anglian region.

But the latest figures released by the Environment Agency today show that all the region's bathing waters hit the target.

Following the failures the agency carried out extensive investigations at Clacton and Cleethorpes with Anglian Water and the local authorities to discover the source of the problem and take action.

Tendring councillor Pierre Oxley (Con, Southcliff) said this meant Tendring would be in a position to go for a Blue Flag in 2002/2003.

"The investment made by Anglian Water is beginning to pay off," he said "Work on the treatment works at Holland Haven is now complete and the one at Jaywick is ahead of schedule."

Money is already being spent on improving Dovercourt's shore facilities for an inspection next summer. Its water quality has consistently hit the required standard since the mid-1990s - and way above the guideline levels under legislation.

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