15 May 2012 Last updated at 07:31 ET <\/p>\n
Four of Devon's best-known beaches have lost their prestigious Blue Flag awards from Keep Britain Tidy. <\/p>\n
Croyde, Woolacombe and Preston Sands failed to meet the necessary standards. Bigbury-on-Sea did not apply for the flags, which are awarded annually. <\/p>\n
Sandy Bay was awarded a flag, however, bringing Devon's total to 12 - five of which were awarded in Torbay. Westward Ho! received its ninth Blue Flag. <\/p>\n
A total of 79 beaches received Blue Flags in England - nine more than 2011. <\/p>\n
Forty-one countries take part in the Blue Flag programme, which is managed internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and in England by Keep Britain Tidy. <\/p>\n
A Blue Flag application costs 792 and awards are based on a number of criteria, including water quality, environmental management, beach services and safety. <\/p>\n
Keep Britain Tidy spokeswoman Helen Bingham said water quality was the reason Croyde, Woolacombe and Preston Sands lost their flags. <\/p>\n
More stringent water quality standards will be introduced next year under the new EU Bathing Water Directive, which organisers have said could result in 30% of English beaches losing their flags. <\/p>\n
From 2013, Blue Flag beaches will also have to provide warnings to beach users when nearby combined sewer overflows discharge, if that discharge could temporarily affect the bathing water quality. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Read more here:<\/p>\n
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