Joss Bay - one of Kent's best beaches

Kent has lost three recommendations overall in this year's Good Beach Guide for excellent water quality.

The latest edition of the Marine Conservation Society list gives the thumbs up to 15 bathing spots in the county.

Last year it was 18.

Five of the recommendations are in Thanet. They are Pegwell Bay, Joss Bay, Botany Bay, Margate’s Fulsam Rock and Westbrook Bay.

The beaches that retained their status are Dymchurch, Hythe, Sandgate, Dover Harbour, St Margaret’s Bay and Sandwich Bay.

Folkestone, Margate Fulsome Rock, Leysdown-on-Sea, Sheerness, Minster Leas were upgraded from a basic pass.

But others in the Marine Conservation Society list have slipped from a "recommended" rating to basic pass.

They are Ramsgate main sands, Stone Bay at Broadstairs, Margate Bay, St Mildred’s Bay at Westgate, Westgate Bay and Minnis Bay.

Deal and Whitstable also lost their recommendations.

Viking Bay at Broadstairs and Walpole Bay in Cliftonville remain as a basic pass. A basic pass meets the European mandatory standard for minimum water quality.

Meanwhile, the marine charity is demanding communities, environmental regulators and water companies adopt stricter standards.

Rachel Wyatt, MCS coastal pollution officer, said: "From 2015 Europe’s beaches will be classified using even stricter water quality standards, due to the revision of the bathing water directive.

"But instead of viewing these new standards with dread, our coastal communities and water companies should welcome them as an opportunity to attract more people to the UK’s wonderful and varied seaside resorts.

"The next few years are critical as the quality of the UK’s bathing waters can play a vital role in the economic recovery of our traditional seaside resorts.

"Making sure their local beaches are ready to comply with the revised Bathing Water Directive is a huge opportunity for local authorities and chambers of commerce to attract increasing numbers of tourists."

Monitoring for the new standards begins next year, and if a beach consistently fails to meet these legal limits between then and 2015, bathers could be faced with a sign advising them not to enter the water when they head to the beach.

What's your favourite beach? Post your comment in the box below.