Nine beaches in Cornwall will be flying Blue Flags this summer
They are among 56 to be awarded the coveted status in the South West
Cornwall is being praised for the standard of its beaches after NINE won coveted Blue Flag Awards, from Porthminster to Polzeath.
The awards, managed by Keep Britain Tidy, celebrate the best beaches and judge them based on environmental standards, water quality and cleanliness.
A total of 56 across the South West will be flying the famous flag while 54 in our region were also given the prestigious Seaside Awards.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: "The success of these beaches in reaching the very high standards demanded is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our blue spaces – from beach managers and volunteers to local residents and businesses.
"The huge commitment needed to maintain marvellous beaches worthy of these awards cannot be underestimated.
"People who visit a beach flying a Seaside Award can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards".
The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards aim to continue to improve the quality of England’s coastline each year, with the final list for the 2022 demonstrating that a beach is one of the best across the world.
The Cornish beaches flying Blue Flags this summer are: Carbis Bay, Crooklets in Bude, Gyllyngvase in Falmouth, Porthminster and Porthmeor in St Ives, Polzeath, Porthtowan, Trevone Bay near Padstow and Widemouth Bay.
The Cornish beaches given Seaside Awards are: Carbis Bay, Crackington Haven, Gyllyngvase in Falmouth, Great Western in Newquay, Perranporth, Polzeath, Porth, Porthtowan, Porthmeor and Porthminster in St Ives, Portreath, Sennen Cove, Trevone Bay near Padstow, Widemouth Bay and Crooklets and Summerleaze in Bude.
Niki Willows chairs the Porthtowan Beach Association and said: "Porthtowan has a great proactive community who are very proud of their village and beach.
"I am absolutely delighted. Everyone who lives in the village and our many repeat visitors know that Porthtowan is a very special place. These flags show it is amongst the best beaches in Europe.
"This is a real community award which many people in the village work very hard to achieve".
You can find a full list of Blue Flag and Seaside Awards on the Keep Britain Tidy website.