ESSEX'S coastline has been praised for its "excellent" water quality.

Bathing waters in the county have been given a thumbs up for water quality, with all of them rated as good and excellent by the Environment Agency.

Across the Anglian Water region this year, nearly 94 per cent of the bathing waters achieved a positive result.

Seven Essex beaches, including Dovercourt, Brightlingsea, Shoebury Common, Shoeburyness East Beach, Southend Thorpe Bay, Southend Three Shells and Southend Westcliff Bay, were also awarded Blue Flags by Keep Britain Tidy this year.

The award indicates excellent bathing water quality, environmental education programmes and beach management.

Anglian Water said it has invested more than £300 million over the last 25 years to protect coastlines across its region, including by improving sewerage infrastructure in and around bathing spots.

This includes improvements made at Holland-on-Sea, Jaywick, Walton and Clacton Water Recycling Centres and UV disinfection technology installed at West Mersea.

The water company has also reduced its use of storm overflows on the Essex coastline, with a tunnel between Clacton Pier and Holland WRC redirecting stormwater so it can be safely treated before being returned to the environment.

Dr Robin Price, director of environment and quality for Anglian Water, said: "We're delighted with the bathing water results for Essex this year.

"Ultimately, we want every single one of the bathing waters across the East of England to be Excellent and to make sure our much-loved bathing waters and beaches remain open and the main attraction for decades to come.

"That's why we were the first water company to employ a Coastal Protection Team who work locally to find the sources of pollution that harm the bathing water.

"To do our bit, we've launched initiatives like Get River Positive, which is a commitment to protect and revitalise rivers and coastlines across our regions."

Keep Britain Tidy runs the Seaside Awards, celebrating the quality and diversity of our coastline.

Of the 48 designated bathing beaches in our region, 17 qualified for this award in 2022, alongside three non-designated beaches.