Water passes Blue Flag standard

Bathing waters in an area off West Norfolk have met the Blue Flag water quality standard for the first time.

West Norfolk has three designated bathing waters at Old Hunstanton, Hunstanton, and Heacham North Beach.

All passed the mandatory EU water quality standard but Old Hunstanton has passed the tougher Blue Flag bacterial standards for the first time.

The Environment Agency monitors take 20 samples from each designated bathing water site between May and September.

In 2007, 140 bathing waters in England and Wales were awarded a Blue Flag.