The Blue Flag Award has been presented to 120 beaches in England and Wales, an increase of 25 on last year.

A total of 77 Beaches in England won the accolade, while Wales received 43 awards.

Clacton won its first Blue Flag through Marcello Bay, but the biggest winner was Margate, which won three separate flags.

Blue Flag chief executive, Alan Woods, said: “The British people make around 298 million trips to the coast each year and are increasingly attracted to Blue Flag beaches because they offer cleaner sand and water.”

Woods urged beaches that haven’t entered the scheme to do so, or risk “being left behind”.

The Blue Flag is an internationally recognised symbol that acknowledges the beaches that have good access and facilities, litter-free sand as well as clean sea water.

The Blue Flag Awards are organised by the Foundation for Environmental Education and administered in Britain by ENCAMS. The scheme now runs across Europe, the Caribbean, South Africa and some parts of the USA.

VisitBritain has also released a book called The Blue Flag Beaches Guide 2006, featuring 100 UK beaches. Details: www.blueflag.org