THE Environment Agency (EA) has begun its weekly testing of beaches across Devon and Cornwall for the 2025 summer season.

Throughout the season, which runs from May 15 until the end of September, the EA will be taking more than 7000 samples at 451 designated bathing waters across England.

There are 155 monitored sites across Devon and Cornwall.

Scientists will look for elevated levels of E. Coli and intestinal enterococci – bad bacteria found in sewage and other waste.

The results will be catalogued on the Swimfo website which also contains information about each bathing water – its history, a description of the surrounding area as well as several years of results.

Beaches are classed as excellent, good, sufficient and poor.

Out of 155 monitored bathing waters, there are only two beaches in Devon and Cornwall – Coastguards Beach on the Erme Estuary and Porthluney - with results tipping them into the 'poor' classification.

This does not, however, mean they are dirty, rather a ‘oor’ classification means that very high standards are not consistently met, and the Environment Agency says it ‘actively investigating why’.

Bruce Newport of the Environment Agency said: ‘Over a third of England’s bathing waters can be found in Devon and Cornwall and over 98 per cent of them meet the very high levels of water quality expected for safe swimming.

‘We also publish a daily water quality forecast on many of our beaches which can be found on our Swimfo website.

‘This service is a great asset, especially after heavy rainfall which can temporarily cause a dip in water quality.’