Wales' beach water quality boosted by dry summer

Three Cliff Bay with a view of the horseshoe shaped Tor Bay and Oxwich in the distance

More beaches in Wales have been recommended for their excellent water quality with fewer failing minimum standards, the Good Beach Guide says.

The dry summer in 2013 was credited for tests showing 109 out of 152 leading Welsh beaches classed as excellent by the Marine Conservation Society, up 11.

Beaches which would not have met minimum EU bathing water standard in 2013 fell from five to four, it said.

The MCS hoped it would boost tourism after pollution due to wet summers.

The society said its Good Beach Guide was based on standards set by the European Bathing Water Directive but differed from the official Blue Flag scheme by including test results on more rural, isolated beaches not legally required to meet EU standards because of their small number of bathers.

All five beaches which the MCS said would not have reached minimum EU bathing water quality standard in 2012 have now passed with two - Criccieth in Gwynedd and Llandudno West Shore - now judged to be excellent.

But four beaches fell below that standard in 2013 having previously passed including one - Broughton Bay in Swansea - which had been recommended as excellent in 2012.

Daily forecasts

MCS Wales programme manager Gill Bell said the survey was good news after previous wet summers saw pollution problems due to overloaded sewers.

The beach at Aberaeron South enjoying some April sunshine

There are eight visible wrecks along Cefn Sidan beach near Llanelli

Sunshine during the Easter holidays brings visitors to Rest Bay in Porthcawl on Tuesday

The Worm's Head in Rhossili on the Gower peninsular

"It's great news that we are able to recommend so many beaches for excellent water quality and it shows just how good Welsh beaches can be," she said.

"The main challenge now is maintaining these standards, whatever the weather."

Ms Bell added it was impossible to judge whether the stormy winter weather would have any long term impact on beach quality this summer.

Arches near Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire