Standards fell across the UK as a whole, with the number meeting guideline standards dropping from 77 per cent last year to 60 per cent in 2012 and those achieving the minimum grade falling from 98 per cent in 2011 to 94 per cent this year.

Richard Benyon, the Environment Minister, said: "While the majority of England's bathing waters continue to be of good quality, I am disappointed that a number have fallen short of the tighter standard due to the heavy rainfall we experienced during the summer.

"It is crucial that we continue to work with the Environment Agency, water companies and stakeholders to continue to address the effect that pollution is having on bathing water quality in some areas.

"Having quality bathing water and beaches is not only good for the water environment but also for tourism and local economies."

Lord Smith, chairman of the Environment Agency, said: "Bathing water quality has improved significantly over the past two decades, but this year heavy rainfall over the summer has affected results.

He warned that water companies, businesses, farmers and local authorities need to work to improve water quality on beaches and meet the more stringent EU standards to be introduced by 2015.

Two per cent of beaches in Wales were found to be more dirty, but Scottish beaches were actually found to be more clean, with 99 per cent making the mandatory grade, up from 95 per cent last year.

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English beaches are dirtier than last year