SWANAGE Beach has once again been awarded Blue Flag status for another year – as well as retaining the Seaside Award.

This marks the 24th year that the beach has been flying the flags.

The international Blue Flag award is only given to beaches that boast the highest quality of water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management, facilitated by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

It was also presented with a Seaside Award – awarded only to the best beaches in England.

Councillor Mike Bonfield said: “It is great to see that Swanage Central Beach has yet again achieved the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards.

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“Swanage Town Council works hard to ensure that the beach meets the consistently high standards required by the Awards as it recognises how important the beach is to the life of the town.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “In England we are lucky enough to have some of the best beaches in the world.

“It’s wonderful to see the flags flying proudly over so many beaches, demonstrating their quality to residents and visitors alike.

“The awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach and site managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who should take pride today in their tireless efforts to maintain, protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular blue spaces.

“Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards.”

To qualify for a Blue Flag award, beaches must satisfy standards in four categories, with 33 individual targets covering environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management, and safety and services.