FOUR Teignbridge beaches have secured prestigious awards.

Dawlish Warren beach has retained its Blue Flag accolade again, for the 26th successive year, one of 35 beaches across the south west to achieve the accolade.

And both Coryton Cove and Dawlish town beach have been awarded the Seaside Award.

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has today announced the winners of this year’s awards.

The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognised award for beaches, marinas and inland bathing waters and, to qualify, each applicant must meet and maintain a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.

Blue Flag beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard as set out in the EU bathing water directive and Seaside Award winners must meet the ‘sufficient’ standard.Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “As an island community, the quality of our beaches and blue spaces crucial to our environment and vital for our economy, particularly in terms of tourism and employment.

‘Achieving this accreditation shows the commitment of beach managers and local authorities to protect them for years to come.

‘In England we are lucky enough to have some of the best beaches in the world. It’s wonderful to see the flags flying proudly over 47 of them in the South West, demonstrating their quality to residents and visitors alike.

‘The awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach and site managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who should take pride today in their tireless efforts to maintain and improve some of our best-loved and most popular blue spaces.’

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