THE quality of bathing water off the region’s coastline has dipped significantly in the past year, according to a survey released today.

Heavy rain and overflowing sewers have been blamed for the drop in the number of beaches praised in the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) annual good beach guide.

The number commended for their water quality fell by 16.5 per cent nationally, with a 15 per cent drop in the region.

Fifty-three per cent of beaches in the North-East and North Yorkshire are MCS recommended – 34 out of 64 tested – compared to 68 per cent last year.

The Northern Echo: Map of North-East beaches

Five failed to meet the minimum legal water quality standard, compared to four in last year’s guide.

The society says it is highly concerned about the bathing site of Staithes, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, which has failed 17 times in the past 21 years – more than any other in the guide.

The region’s other four failing beaches are Seaton Sluice, in North Tyneside, Seaburn, near Sunderland, Seaham, in east Durham, and Spittal, in Northumberland.

Those praised include Scarborough and Whitby and South Shields, Marsden and Tynemouth, on Tyneside.

The 16.5 per cent national fall is the biggest year-on-year drop in the 22-year history of the guide.

A total of 370 UK beaches are MCS recommended this year out of 777 tested, with the number of beaches making the grade dipping below half for the first time since 2002.

The MCS is a charity dedicated to caring for the country’s seas, shores and wildlife.

Thomas Bell, the society’s coastal pollution officer, said: “Today’s results reflect last summer’s heavy rain, which swept waterborne pollutants, such as raw sewage, petrochemicals and farm waste, into rivers and the sea.

“MCS is now recommending 25 per cent fewer beaches than three years ago and becoming concerned that the existing infrastructure for handling storm pollution may not be up to the job.”

The region’s water companies have welcomed the findings of the survey.

A spokesman for Northumbrian Water said: “Of the 35 bathing areas in Northumbrian Water’s area, 31 have passed, including 15 that were recommended by the MCS.

“Considering the atrocious stormy weather last autumn, these are good results.”

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water, whose geographical area includes the beach at Staithes, said: “As part of a £120m coast care programme, the company built a waste water treatment works. This has performed well and will have had a positive effect on water quality at Staithes.

“There are a number of other factors that must be taken into consideration, particularly in the case of Staithes.

“These include private discharges of crude sewage, industrial discharges, pollution from sea-going vessels and surface water run-off from agricultural land.”

■ For more survey details visit goodbeachguide.co.uk