A record 109 Welsh beaches have been awarded the Seaside Awards yellow and blue flags for 2006, beating last year's 108.

The beaches need to attain the EU minimum legal standard of bathing water quality as well as satisfying the judges over infrastructure and management issues.

Of the total number of awards announced for Wales, 62 were awarded to 'rural' beaches, having met the 13 land-based criteria. The remaining 47 beaches classified as the more popular 'resort' beaches had to meet 26 criteria. They included dog ban areas, arrangements for the disabled and a range of other facilities.

The awards are co-ordinated in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy. The organisation pointed to the dramatic improvement since the awards began in 1992, when only 14 Welsh beaches met the criteria.

Blue Flags

Forty-one of Wales' beaches were awarded the higher Blue Flag accolade in 2005, compared to 40 in the whole of Scotland. This year's Blue Flags will be announced in June, and international beaches that have qualified can be found on the main Blue Flag website.

Page 2: full list of 109 Seaside Award beaches
Page 3: Gareth Scurlock's favourite Pembrokeshire beaches

()Welsh Seaside Award beaches 2006

Anglesey

Resort: Llanddwyn, Newborough; Llanddona; Benllech; Cemaes Bay, Traeth Mawr; Trearddur Bay; Porth Dafarch.

Rural: Aberffraw, Traeth Mawr; Llanfaelog, Porth Tyn Tywyn; Llanfaelog, Porth Nobla; Llanfaelog, Cable Bay; Rhosneigr, Broad Beach; Rhosneigr, Traeth Crigyll; Rhoscolyn, Silver Bay; Rhoscolyn, Borth Wen; Llanfwrog Sandy Beach; Llanfaethlu, Porth Trwyn; Rhydwyn, Church Bay; Cemlyn; Llaneilian, Porth Eilian; Dulas, Traeth Lligwy; Moelfre; Red Wharf Bay, St David's; Red Wharf Bay, Traeth Coch; Beaumaris; Penmon.

Bridgend

Resort: Porthcawl, Rest Bay; Trecco Bay

Carmarthenshire

Resort: Pembrey Country Park, Cefn Sidan.

Ceredigion

Resort: Borth; Aberystwyth North; Aberystwyth South; New Quay - Traeth yr Harbwr; Aberporth; Tresaith;Llangrannog,Traeth y Pentref.

Rural: Aberaeron South; Cwmtydu; Llangrannog - Cilborth; Clarach; Penbryn; Mwnt; Llanrhystud.

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