England's blue flag beaches 2009

Steps leading down to the beach in Scarborough, Yorkshire. The number of English beaches awarded "blue flags" has fallen in 2009 as a result of flooding in the past two years Photograph: John Short/Corbis

Beach huts at Tankerton in Whitstable, Kent. A blue flag beach is a sea or freshwater beach that has met stringent quality standards during the whole of the previous bathing season Photograph: Martyn Goddard/Rex Features

Poole in Dorset. Seventy-one English beaches were awarded blue flags for clean water, litter-free shores, good facilities and high standards of safety - 11 less than last year's figure of 82 Photograph: Alex Sudea/Rex Features

Porthtowan beach, Cornwall. The fall in the number of blue flags given to English beaches this year was due to the impacts of heavy rain and flooding in 2008 and 2007, which washed pollutants into the sea and has affected water quality Photograph: Dave Penman/Rex Features

Long Sands at Tynemouth in the north-east is popular with surfers Photograph: Richard Klune/Corbis

Blue flag beaches along the Yorkshire Coast are numerous and include Bridlington North and South beaches Photograph: Rex Features

Whitby is another Yorkshire beach awarded blue flag status Photograph: Peter Adams/Corbis

Porthmeor beach at St Ives, Cornwall. Cornwall council received eight blue flags, the highest number for any beach-managing authority Photograph: John Harper/Corbis

People paddling on the beach, Southend-on-Sea, Essex. The number of Quality Coast Awards (QCAs) – recognition for the best-managed beaches which may not reach blue flag standards for water quality – has increased since last year. This year, 113 beaches were given the QCA award, a rise of 31 on the 2008 figures Photograph: Andrew Drysdale /Rex Features

Sandown beach and pier, Isle of Wight. Areas topping the league for quality beaches were the Isle of Wight, with two blue flags and 12 QCAs Photograph: Per Lindgren/Rex Features

A mid-morning mist sweeps across the seafront at Scarborough, the seaside town in North Yorkshire Photograph: Richard Baker/Corbis

Sea Palling on the Norfolk coast is a stunning example of Norfolk's unspoilt natural beauty Photograph: Brian Harris/Rex Features

The three-mile long stretch of golden sand that is Woolacombe beach in north Devon is a big favourite for families and surfers Photograph: John Harper/Corbis

Sunbathers enjoy themselves at Bournemouth beach Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Holidaymakers on the beach at Skegness in Lincolnshire Photograph: Andrew Drysdale/Rex Features