Thanet is flying the flag for clean beaches, it's been revealed.

The district has some of the cleanest and best beaches in the country, with a total of seven being given the accolade this year.

Awarded by Keep Britain Tidy, the Blue Flag awards are given to beaches with fantastic facilities, cleanliness and which meet the highest international standard of water quality.

But the area has one fewer Blue Flag than last year, with Margate losing the title.

Sheerness and Tankerton are Kent's newest Blue Flag holders, gaining the accolade for 2014.

A further eight Kent beaches can claim to be Seaside Award winners.

Across the country, there are a total of 168 award-winning beaches this year, with 23 beaches holding both awards.

Richard McIlwain, programmes director for the charity Keep Britain Tidy, which is responsible for the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards in England, said: "We have some fantastic coastline and we know that communities up and down the country love their beaches.

"They provide opportunities for people to get outside, relax and have fun for free, while visitors to our beaches often provide support for local jobs and inward investment at sea front resorts

"We know that for many holiday makers and daytrippers clean, safe beaches, with good water quality and facilities are important factors in deciding which beach to visit.

"The sight of the Blue Flag or Seaside Award flying gives visitors the reassurance that they’ll have a great time"