Canvey's bid for blue flags for its beaches has been shot down before it got off the ground.

An application was put forward in September, with the backing of Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris, for two Canvey beaches to be awarded blue flag status.

It was hoped, if successful, the move could spark the regeneration of the island as a tourist attraction.

Blue flag status would cement Concord and Thorney Bay beaches’ reputation for being clean, well kept and environmentally sound.

But now the application has been thrown out by the Environment Scrutiny committee after officers gave a report stating it would cost several thousand pounds, far beyond the council’s budget.

Although disappointed, Castle Point councillor Ray Howard, insisted it does not take anything away from the hard work of volunteers at the Baywatch and Friends of Concord Beach.

He said: “We have come such a long way with the seafront it would have been nice to have that recognised.

“If you look back not too long ago, the beaches and the water quality were a mess. “We were deeply affected by the oil refineries and Pitsea landfill, and it was appalling.

“But the way our community has come together and turned around the state of the beaches deserves praise.

“We may not earn blue flag status, but I would like to see some kind of award given to the volunteers and to the beachers to show how far we have come.

Canvey Independent Councillor, Dave Blackwell admitted the idea was not explored deeply enough before it was announced to the public, admitting the beaches are a long way from blue flag status.

He said: “It is a shame, but I think maybe it shouldn’t have been pitched to start with.

“The officers went through 31 criteria that we would have to meet, and at present I would say we meet barely any.

“We would also have had to test the water for four years before you even apply.

“It was a nice idea, but I think we perhaps should have investigated it a bit further before we made it public, because it is clear the criteria is so strict and intensive.

“Officers said they could not even contemplate how much it would cost.”