A record number of British beaches have been awarded Blue Flags after passing tests for clean water, management and visitor facilities.

Encams, the environment charity that administers the awards gave flags to 83 beaches - up from 55 last year.

'This is superb news for Britain and the two million people working in tourism, especially after the setbacks to the industry caused by September 11 and last year's foot and mouth crisis,' said Alan Woods, chief executive of Encams.

Fourteen new beaches and 18 re-entries have made the grade including popular resorts such as Branksome Chine at Poole, Southend, Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, Tenby and Scarborough.

The international Blue Flag system looks at factors such as access for disabled people, litter levels and the provision of bins at both resort and rural beaches and marinas. Water has to achieve a cleanliness standard defined by European law.

For the first time this year, Britain is piloting an award for rural beaches on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and a total of 12 have been awarded the accolade. Blue Flags have also been presented to 27 well-managed marinas.

Environment minister Michael Meacher says the British seaside has never been as safe and lean as it is today:

'A massive water quality investment programme has given us the cleanest waters since the industrial revolution. We now have a record 95 per cent of UK beaches complying with the European Bathing Water Directive in 2001 and I'm determined that standards will rise further' Details: www.seasideawards.org.uk