Summer rain 'dirties' sea water

Summerleaze beach in Cornwall was one of only three SW beaches to fail

Beaches in the South West have come top for water quality for the third year running, according to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

But in its annual Good Beach Guide, the MCS said poor summer weather had led to the biggest fall in water quality at UK beaches in more than 20 years.

Tests between May and September showed a 10% drop in the number of beaches with excellent water quality.

The MCS said heavy rain swept sewage and animal waste into rivers and sea.

In Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset 139 of its 192 tested beaches earned the top "recommended" standard by the MCS.

Outfall closures

Only three of the tested beaches failed to meet minimum European standards. These were Instow in north Devon, Mothecombe in the South Hams, Devon and Summerleaze beach in Bude, Cornwall.

The guide said the MCS welcomed the impending closures in Cornwall of two raw sewage outfalls at Sennen and Porthcurno and plans for similar action at Boscastle, Bossinney, Tintagel and Polperro.

Beaches in the Channel Islands suffered the worst, according to the report, with the recommended number falling from 15 to 8.

The MCS recommendations are one of five UK awards, but is the only scheme to focus entirely on water quality.