Some beaches have been given Blue Flag status ahead of the summer season.

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, which manages the award on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education, has rewarded four Sussex beaches this year for the quality, the way they are managed and the facilities they offer to visitors. 

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Keep Britain Tidy has also given out "Seaside Awards" to the best beaches across the country.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: "Blue Flag locations are free for all to enjoy, with visitors able to experience the same quality as destinations like Spain or Trinidad and Tobago without the environmental impact - or price tag - of flying.

"Seaside Awards are presented to the best beaches in England and celebrate the quality and diversity of our coastline.

"The awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach and site managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who have worked tirelessly to maintain, protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular blue spaces and we’d like to take this moment to recognise and applaud them.

"We should not underestimate the huge commitment needed to make these marvellous sites worthy of these awards."

Saltdean Beach, Hove Lawns, St Leonard’s Marina and West Wittering Beach have all been given a 2024 Blue Flag Award.

The Sussex beaches with Blue Flag status are

  • Camber Sands
  • Bexhill on Sea
  • Bognor Regis East
  • Littlehampton Coastguards
  • Brighton West Street
  • Hastings Pelham
  • Normans Bay
  • Winchelsea
  • Louisa Bay in Rother
  • Walpole Bay in Rother
  • Saltdean Beach
  • Hove Lawns
  • St Leonard’s Marina
  • West Wittering Beach

The Blue Flag award is only given to beaches, marinas, and inland bathing waters that have achieved the highest water quality classification as per the EU Bathing Water Directive.

Beaches eligible also need to have an environmental education programme in place.

Across the South East, over 30 beaches were awarded Blue Flag status this year.