In the latest figures published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) yesterday, Falmouth beaches passed the latest water quality bathing standards tests.

The beaches in Falmouth that were tested were Gyllyngvase Beach (excellent), Swanpool Beach (excellent), Maenporth Beach (good).

The figures showed an overall pass rate of 98.7% for Devon and Cornwall. With 82.8% of beaches receiving an 'excellent' rating.

Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of Visit Cornwall, told Nub News:

"We are absolutely delighted because we had a particularly dry summer and these tests can be affected by a lot of rain, normally the wet summer can mean your readings drop.

"This year we have had a 100% pass rate, it is a lot higher than the last four years and we are delighted."

Classification for each bathing water is calculated annually based on samples from the previous four years. The Environment Agency rates the water as excellent, good, sufficient or poor, based on the level of bacteria.

Malcolm Bell added:

"People do check these sites, beach information and data is important, so having passed as 'good' and 'excellent' just makes a reassurance particularly for the family market.

"When you have younger children, you tend to be a bit more on the ball and a bit more cautious and wanting that extra bit of security.

"The aim is to keep improving but that will get more and more challenging, the next thing is to keep the beaches clean from the plastics and other litter. It is nice to have a good bathing water standard but you want the beaches to be clean as well."

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