Three Pembrokeshire beaches look set to fly European Blue Flags once again next year after an improvement in their water quality standards. Tenby North, Amroth and Saundersfoot all lost out last season after failing the stringent guideline tests.

For Tenby North and Saundersfoot, it was the second failure in a row, with Amroth - a Blue Flag holder for the previous two years - also not coming up to the standard, along with Coppet Hall and Pendine.

But, happily, all these five beaches can now count themselves back among the water quality elite in Wales, where this year 45 met the exacting European standards.

Pembrokeshire County Council chairman Councillor Rosemary Hayes, of Saundersfoot, described the news as excellent for both the area and Pembrokeshire, where nearly 20 of the countys beaches achieved guideline standards.

She added: Applications are already in the process of being submitted for Tenby North, Saundersfoot and Amroth to be reinstated as Blue Flag beaches next year, which will be very good news.

The Environment Agency, which had carried out investigations into the previous failures, also welcomed the results.

A spokesman said: The marked improvement in guideline compliance is a positive step in tackling other sources of bathing water contamination, such as from diffuse pollution.