An award-winning beach which recently scooped the respected Blue Flag prize will not be able to fly its banner this summer.

An announcement from Swale council has revealed the shore of Minster Leas, on Sheppey, will no longer have a lifeguard presence – a key requirement of the awards’ criteria.

The council partners with the RNLI to provide lifeguard cover at various beaches across the Island, including at this year’s other two beach winners – Leysdown and Sheerness.

However, due to difficulties in recruiting lifeguards across Sheppey, the RNLI has now taken the decision to focus its presence away from Minster.

Eleven Kent beaches won the prestigious award when the winners were revealed in May.

A spokesman for Swale council said: “In the last few years, the RNLI has struggled to recruit local lifeguards and has been relying on bringing in people from other areas to cover our beaches.

“Now other areas are also struggling to recruit, so the pool of specially trained lifeguards is smaller.

“Because of this, the RNLI has taken a decision - based on risk assessments - to prioritise beaches in Leysdown and Sheerness where the currents are more likely to catch people unaware.

“This means the quieter Minster Leas beach will not have a lifeguard presence this year, and despite meeting all of the rest of the criteria, such as water quality, will be unable to fly the Blue Flag.

“We are working to bring in some on-shore first aid support – which is a large part of the work the lifeguards carry out – and will be reminding people they need to take care when in, on or around the water, regardless of whether there is a lifeguard in sight.”

They add the charity is still attempting to recruit lifeguards to cover Minster Leas, with the existing lifeguard unit remaining on the beach in case the service can be resumed later this summer.

The council are urging beachgoers to remain safe regardless of which beach they choose to visit.

They say more information on beach safety is available on the RNLI website.