Countys beaches are a shore winner! (From Western Telegraph)

Countys beaches are a shore winner!

Pembrokeshires beaches have featured prominently in this years Seaside Awards, aimed at recognising clean and well-run beaches. In total, 29 beaches -including nine resorts - were awarded the flag, which is only given to beaches that have passed minimum water quality standards set by the EU.

In addition to water quality standards, resort beaches are tested on first aid, toilets and disabled access. Throughout Britain, 317 beaches were judged worthy of the award - 98 of these were in Wales.

Winning resort beaches were Amroth, Lydstep Haven, Newgale, Poppit Sands, Saundersfoot, Whitesands, Tenby North, Tenby Castle and Tenby South.

Tenby has won a Seaside Award every year since they were introduced in 1992.

Rural winners were Abereiddy, Barafundle Bay, Broadhaven South, Dale, Dinas Cross, Freshwater East, Goodwick Sands, Broad Haven, Little Haven, Manorbier, Marloes, Martins Haven, Nolton Haven, Penally, Pwll-Gwaelod, St Brides Haven, Caerfai, Sandy Haven, Coppet Hall and Wisemans Bridge.

Chairman of the county councils leisure and economic development committee, Councillor Tom Richards, said the awards were a great boost for the county. He said: It not only proves that we have among the best managed beaches in the country, but that the standards are improving all the time.

Six beaches in Pembrokeshire were involved in the 2001 Beachwatch beach-clean and survey, the results of which have recently been published.

They were Druidston, Freshwater East, Sandy Haven, Swanlake, Newport Sands and West Angle Bay. Druidston, Swanlake and Newport Sands all recorded over five items per metre. Freshwater East had 1.9 items per metre, Sandy Haven had 1.4 items and West Angle Bay had 1.9 items. The Welsh average was 1.3 items per kilometre - down from 2.9 items in 2000.

Beach visitors accounted for the majority of the litter at all the Pembrokeshire beaches, apart from Druidston and Newport where most of the litter came from fishing.

Beachwatch is a practical environmental initiative, organised by the Marine Conservation Society.

The Beachwatch campaign was launched in 1993 to raise awareness about the problem of marine and coastal litter and to monitor levels and sources of litter.

CAPTION The chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Rosemary Hayes, at Saundersfoot - one of 29 Pembrokeshire beaches to receive Seaside Awards.