Kent is still flying the blue flag for having some of the best beaches in the world, figures out today reveal.

Keep Britain Tidy has awarded the prestigious Blue Flags to eight beaches in Thanet - meaning the district, for a second year, has more than any other in the country.

It is the fifth year Thanet's sandy spots Botany Bay, Joss Bay and Westbrook Bay were recognised for their good beach facilities and high standards of water quality.

Minnis Bay, St Mildred's Bay, West Bay in Westgate, Margate Main Sands and Stone Bay retained their Blue Flag for a second year - after losing it in 2011 due to bad weather conditions leading to poor water quality.

But Ramsgate Main Sands missed out on getting the award this year, along with Herne Bay and Tankerton.

Instead they have become Seaside Award winners - formerly the Quality Coast Award - which goes to beaches with clean sands, free of litter and dog mess.

Other Kent beaches to get Seaside Awards are Reculver, Beach Street in Sheerness, Leysdown Beach, Minster Leas and Viking Bay in Broadstairs.

Helen Bingham, Keep Britain Tidy spokesman, said: "To get a Blue Flag it means you're one of the best beaches in the world - you have to meet the highest standards for water quality but you have to provide fantastic facilities.

"Thanet has done amazingly. They should be really proud of themselves."

She added the reason for the drop in Blue Flag status across Kent - from 11 to eight is down to new standards.

She said: "The organisation that runs the Blue Flag scheme internationally adopted a new higher standard for water quality, which the EU is bringing in from 2015.

"It has been brought in two years early - so we knew last year that some of the beaches wouldn't be able to meet the water quality."