Which are Britain’s cleanest beaches?

Nothing beats a summer holiday or day out by the sea. The UK has its fair share of stunning coastline and gorgeous beaches, and many of these have reached the very highest standards of cleanliness.

So how do you tell whether the beach you're planning to visit is green and clean for you and your family?

One way is through The Good Beach Guide, which is produced by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), the charity dedicated to the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife.

The annual guide has a description, photo and map for 1,200 beaches in the UK and Ireland. It tells you which beaches have excellent water quality - and which haven't.

According to the guide, Suffolk's coastline has some of the cleanest water in the UK, while the south west of England has the highest number (139) of recommended beaches.

In Wales, look out for areas with the Green Coast Award - a symbol of environmental excellence, established to acknowledge, promote and protect the environment of rural beaches in Wales.

Blue Flag beaches in the UK and abroad - look out for the big blue flag on the beach!
Another clean beach award is the Blue Flag, an eco-label given to over 3300 beaches and marinas in 36 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, New Zealand, Canada and the Caribbean.

The Blue Flag Programme is owned and run by the independent non-profit organisation Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

 The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development at beaches/marinas through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services.