Where is the best beach in the UK?

Alamy

Keep Britain Tidy has announced the results of the annual Blue Flag awards, with 79 English beaches receiving the globally recognised award this year – nine more Blue Flags than 2011.

The results mean England is ranked in the world's top 10 countries for having the most Blue Flag beaches out of the 46 countries taking part in the Blue Flag scheme.

Flying the flag for England's seaside resorts in 2012 is Thanet in Kent with nine Blue Flags, followed by Torbay and Cornwall with five each.

New awards include Herne Bay in Kent and Bridlington North and South in East Yorkshire.

However, it wasn't good news all round. Top UK beaches including Southwold Pier in Suffolk and Wolacombe Sands in Devon lost their awards.

Keep Britain Tidy said that tougher water quality standards, which will be introduced next year, means that up to 30 per cent of Blue Flag Britian's beaches may not meet the necessary standards in the future.

%VIRTUAL-Gallery-128881%