Blue Flag launch after appeal win

Felixstowe originally failed to meet European water quality standards

A beach on the Suffolk coast that lost its Blue Flag status before gaining it back on appeal is to officially fly the flag next week.

A technical problem with a sample taken for testing thwarted Felixstowe's chances of flying the prestigious flag.

After an appeal by Suffolk Coastal District Council, Felixstowe South, which has had Blue Flag status since 2000 was reinstated with the honour.

A flag launch event is taking place at the beach on 14 July.

The council's appeal to the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Copenhagen was supported by Keep Britain Tidy, which runs the Blue Flag programme in England, and the Environment Agency, responsible for testing water quality.

The beach had met all 30 criteria for water quality but there was a gap last summer of three days longer than allowed between water tests while the beach was closed to the public.