THE South is continuing to turn the tide against dirty sands and filthy water with 19 tourist spots gaining clean beach awards.

Resorts including Cowes, Lepe Country Park, Ventnor and Ryde have all today received a clean bill of health from the Tidy Britain Group.

The annual Seaside Awards are given to resort and rural beaches which meet strict guidelines on water quality and tough checks on beach management. It gives parents and tourists a guide to where they and their children can roam on the sands and frolic in the surf in safety.

Those beaches which attain the EC minimum requirement for water quality receive a mandatory (M) rating.

Higher standards of cleanliness are given a guideline (G).

Top Dorset resort Bournemouth is celebrating today after Alum Chine beach joined the seaside elite for the first time.

But the Isle of Wight's Yaverland has been struck off.

All award-winning beaches have to display the results of weekly seawater tests all summer as well as ones taken from the past three years.

If it falls below the required levels at any time the flag, showing the public the beach is safe, must be lowered.

On a national level this is Britain's best year with 272 beaches coming up to scratch.

Southern Tourist Board chairman Michael Green said Hamp-shire, the Isle of Wight and Dorset stood out as one of the top areas in Britain.

"The public must be confident that, when visiting these areas, they are heading to a good environment.

"In this particular part of the country we are so reliant on the tourist industry."

Beaches to win this year's awards:

Bournemouth, Alum Chine M; Bournemouth, Durley G; Bournemouth, Fishermans Walk G; Colwell Bay, IoW G; Cowes, East, IoW M; Cowes, West G; Gurnard, IoW M; Lepe Country Park, New Forest G; Poole, Sandbanks G; Ryde East, IoW M; St Helens, Duver, IoW G; Sandown, IoW M; Seagrove Bay, IoW M; Shanklin, IoW M; Springvale, IoW G; Totland Bay, IoW G; Ventnor, IoW M; West Beachlands, Central, Hayling Island G; West Beachlands, West, Hayling Island G.

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