More than 10 Kent beaches have been awarded Blue Flag titles, with four also winning the summer 2022 Seaside Award.

Named today by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, beaches across Thanet, Sheppey and Dymchurch have been recognised for their cleanliness and excellent facilities offered to visitors.

The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s coastline and promoting the country’s best beaches.

Blue Flag awards are only presented to well-managed beaches with excellent water quality and environmental education programmes.

In Kent, the newly crowned blue flag beaches are:

• Tankerton - Canterbury City Council
• Sheerness Beach, Leysdown Beach and Minster Leas - Swale Borough Council
• Botany Bay, Joss Bay, Minnis Bay, West Bay, St Mildreds, Margate Main Sands and Stone Bay - Thanet District Council

The three in the Swale area and Tankerton beach have also been presented with a Seaside Award.

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

Beaches are assessed for their safety and services, such as first aid and lifeguards where necessary, environmental information including displaying details about local eco systems, water quality and environmental management, including litter and waste.

The Seaside Award was won by 12 beaches in Kent.

They are:

• Leysdown Beach, Minster Leas and Sheerness Beach - Swale Borough Council
• Reculver, a non-bathing beach, Herne Bay and Tankerton - Canterbury City Council
• Dymchurch - Dymchurch Parish Council
• Ramsgate Main Sands, Westbrook Bay and Viking Bay, Broadstairs - Thanet District Council
• Sandgate Beach – Sandgate Parish Council

The charity's chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “The success of these beaches in reaching the very high standards demanded is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our blue spaces – from beach managers and volunteers to local residents and businesses.

"The huge commitment needed to maintain marvellous beaches worthy of these awards cannot be underestimated.

“People who visit a beach flying a Blue Flag or Seaside Award can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards.”

And if you're looking for a beach a little further afield, there are now 33 beaches across the south east with the prestigious blue flag award.

The newest to be added to the list includes

• Brighton Central and Hove Lawns - Brighton and Hove Council
• Marina St Leonards - Hastings Borough Council
• Hayling Island Beachlands - Havant Borough Council
• Sandown - Sandown Town Council
• West Wittering Beach – West Wittering Estate plc

And the Seaside Award also went to:

• Worthing Beach - Worthing Council
• Bognor Regis East and Littlehampton Coastguards - Arun District Council
• Saltdean - Brighton and Hove Council
• Marina, St Leonards on Sea, Pelham Beach - Hastings Borough Council

• St Helens - St Helens Town Council
• Seagrove and Springvale, a non-bathing beach - Nettlestone and Seaview Parish Council
• West Wittering - West Wittering Estate plc