Pembrokeshire is the top Welsh county for the best bathing waters, new figures reveal.

The county has 25 areas rated "excellent" - which number almost a quarter of the total of bathing areas in the country.

The Bathing Waters in Wales statistics for 2016 show that there are 102 designated bathing waters in Wales which achieved European standards, with 84 of them being classed as "excellent".

This means that Pembrokeshire can lay claim to nearly a third of the top Welsh swimming spots.

Gaining the rating are Amroth Central, Coppet Hall, Tenby North, Castle Beach, Tenby; Tenby South, Penally, Lydstep, Manorbier, Freshwater East, Barafundle, Broad Haven (South), Freshwater West, West Angle, Dale, Marloes Sands, Broad Haven (Central), Druidston Haven, Newgale, Caerfai, Whitesands, Abereiddy, Abermawr, Newport North and Poppit West.

Wiseman's Bridge and Little Haven are given a "good" rating, while Sandy Haven and Nolton Haven are classified "sufficient", which are still within the tough European quality standards.

With over 99 per cent of beaches in Wales of European standard quality, the country boasts some of the best bathing waters in Europe.

The Welsh Government's cabinet secretary for environment and rural affairs, Lesley Griffith, welcomed the figures.

She said: "Wales has some of the most stunning coastline anywhere in the world.

"Our beaches and other bathing areas are a magnet for visitors from far and wide, as well as being hugely popular with local communities.

"These figures are no accident. They are the direct result of a lot of hard work by local people, local authorities and organisations like Natural Resources Wales and Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, who have invested more than £1billion in sewage treatment and neetwork improvements since 20012."

Pembrokeshire County Council's cabinet member for environmental and regulatory services, Huw George, said it was a tremendous achievement for Pembrokeshire to have 29 bathing areas meeting the European bathing water standards.

"It's more than anywhere else in the country and nearly all of them are rated 'excellent'," said Councillor George.

"Once again I'm very proud of the county, and it speaks highly of the county council, our partner agencies, the land owners and members of public who can all claim credit for delivering our beach strategy."