A BEACH'S bathing water has been given the stamp of approval with the highest quality rating possible.

Dovercourt beach's water quality has been rated as excellent by the Environment Agency - one of only four in Tendring to make the grade.

It adds to Dovercourt Bay's Blue Flag Award for the cleanliness, safety and services on offer at the beach.

Harwich councillor Garry Calver said: "This is very good news both for residents and our local tourism economy.

"It is clear that Dovercourt Bay becomes more and more popular each summer and this news will encourage even more people to take advantage of our wonderful bathing water."

The Environment Agency tests water quality at every official bathing area to ensure it is maintained and improved.

Last year, water quality remained high with 98.3 per cent of bathing waters in England meeting the tough standards.

Helen Wakeham, deputy director of water quality at the Environment Agency, said: “Water quality has improved at English beaches giving locals and tourists a better experience as well as benefitting the environment.

“The Environment Agency will continue to work with water companies, councils and local communities to keep our beaches clean, reduce pollution and protect our environment.

"We are working to achieve the goal in Defra’s 25 year plan to minimise the harmful bacteria in our bathing waters by 2030.”

During the bathing water season environment officers take up to 20 samples at each location.

It said that sewage and agriculture are generally recognised as the two most significant sources of pollution.

This year the Environment Agency is rolling out new rules for farmers to ensure best practice is followed and pollution from farms is reduced.

It added that all members of the public can help keep water clean by taking all rubbish with them after visits to the beach, not leaving dog mess on the beach and by never flushing wet wipes or pouring fats down drains at home.

Other nearby beaches rated as excellent are Holland, east Clacton and Brightlingsea.

Beaches in Walton, Frinton, Jaywick and Clacton's Martello Bay were graded as 'good' and West Mersea beach was rated as 'sufficient'.

But Clacton's Groyne 41 beach has failed to make the grade for the past four years, instead being branded as poor.

The pollution had previously been blamed on pigeon mess, but it is now thought that was only a minor source of the contamination.

Tendring Council said the authority is working closely with the Environment Agency and Anglian Water to locate the source of the issue around Groyne 41.