Holidaymakers rate South West beaches 'best' in Britain

St Ives was voted best beach destination in Britain and sixth best in Europe

St Ives and Newquay in Cornwall have been rated the best two beach resorts in Britain by online reviewers.

The top 10 British destinations rated by users of travel review site TripAdvisor included Padstow.

The South West dominated the TripAdvisor table and included Woolacombe in Devon and Bournemouth, Weymouth and Swanage in Dorset.

St Brelade in the Channel Island of Jersey, Tenby in Wales and Shanklin in the Isle of Wight also made the top 10.

St Ives was also ranked as the sixth best European beach destination.

TripAdvisor spokeswoman Emma O'Boyle said the best beach destinations had been decided by the travellers themselves.

"Vast numbers of Brits jet off to traditional Mediterranean beaches every year, yet a British beach resort has out-classed all its Spanish, French and Italian counterparts in the awards."

Malcolm Bell, head of tourism at Visit Cornwall, said in his opinion, real travellers rating their favourite beach destinations gave the survey "real authenticity".

"This award is an amazing testament to the popularity of St Ives which is truly one of the jewels in Cornwall's crown," he said.

Having three Cornish resorts in the top 10 was an added bonus, Mr Bell said.

"This puts us up there as a premier player in the UK and it's very good news in the run up to the main season... when there's still business to be had."