Two of Suffolk's most popular beaches have scooped the prestigious Blue Flag award.

Felixstowe South and Pier and Southwold Beach have been crowned among the cleanest, safest and most enjoyable sites in the UK for the third year running, after achieving the award in 2022 and 2023.

The Blue Flag award is aimed at improving the quality of England's coastline and is only presented to well-managed beaches with excellent water quality and environmental education programmes.

Ipswich Star: Cleanliness is a key consideration for Blue Flag status awards Cleanliness is a key consideration for Blue Flag status awards (Image: Newsquest)

Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton, OBE, said: “Blue Flag locations are free for all to enjoy, with visitors able to experience the same quality as destinations like Spain or Trinidad and Tobago without the environmental impact - or price tag - of flying."

READ MORE: 'Delight' as stretch of river in town given bathing water status

“The awards are a credit to the collective efforts of beach and site managers, volunteers, residents and businesses who have worked tirelessly to maintain, protect and improve some of our best-loved and most popular blue spaces and we’d like to take this moment to recognise and applaud them. 

Ipswich Star: The beach huts at SouthwoldThe beach huts at Southwold (Image: Newsquest)

“It’s wonderful to see the flags flying proudly over these 150 fantastic beaches that are a real asset to both residents and from visitors across the country."

"The Blue Flag and Seaside Awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s coastline and blue spaces and promoting the country’s best beaches."

“We should not underestimate the huge commitment needed to make these marvellous beaches worthy of these awards, and it is impressive that we have seen an increase in sites achieving the Seaside Award this year, as well as our first inland bathing water achieving both awards – congratulations to all involved.” 

Ipswich Star: The walk down to Southwold beachThe walk down to Southwold beach (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for communities, leisure and tourism said: “We are delighted to once again receive these national awards which highlight the quality of East Suffolk’s beaches and place them amongst the best in the country."