South's coastal waters 'best ever'

The beach at Margate is the South's only failure

Quality of water off the South's beaches is the "best ever", according to the Environment Agency.

The agency says tests at beaches in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex and Kent have shown continued improvement.

Monitoring of bathing waters, which was completed last month, indicates 98.7% of bathing waters tested achieved EC Bathing Water Directive standards.

This is great news for people who enjoy a summer dip and for those whose business relies on the tourist industry

Bob Edmunds, Environment Agency

The agency says there have been huge improvements over the past four years.

Waters around the Isle of Wight have shown the greatest improvement, getting a 100% pass rate.

The island's results come after the "Seaclean Wight" scheme was put into action by Southern Water.

Bob Edmunds, regional water quality manager, said: "These results...reflect the general improvement in bathing water quality, resulting from the agency's continuing pressure.

"Annual monitoring means that we can continue to ensure that this high level of water quality is maintained by pinpointing areas where further action is needed."

Contaminated brook

The water off Margate beach in Kent, is one case where results were considered poor.

Problems at the beach have arisen three times, where quality has dipped below the EC standard.

The Tivoli Brook, which discharges directly on to the beach, can become contaminated during wet weather, said the agency.

Other areas that have shown improvements include Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, both in West Sussex, after a scheme to treat sewage twice, was implemented.

"This is great news for people who enjoy a summer dip and for those whose business relies on the tourist industry," added Mr Edmunds.