THE coastal bathing waters in Yorkshire are the cleanest on record - for the second year running.

Tests carried out by the Environment Agency during this year's bathing season, showed the water is cleaner than ever before.

As well as all 23 of the region's designated bathing beaches achieving 100 per cent compliance with the EU Directive's mandatory standard, this year has seen five more beaches reach the stringent guideline status.

Yorkshire's coast now boasts 14 beaches that have achieved the highest measurable standard for bathing water quality.

Yorkshire Water's director of waste water, Graham Dixon, said: "We are delighted that our investment in state-of-the-art waste water treatments works is enabling us to play our part in what is another record breaking year for the region's bathing water quality."

The beaches at Whitby and Scarborough North Bay - both awarded Blue Flags last year - again achieved the standard.

Scarborough's cabinet member for tourism and leisure, Councillor David Jeffels, said: "We are delighted that both Whitby and Scarborough North have once again met the stringent bathing water quality standard for the Blue Flag award

"This means that the resorts have passed one of the essential criteria we needed to meet to retain the prestigious status awarded last year.

"These results help the borough's regeneration efforts no end. They also give our residents and visitors the confidence that our bathing waters are up there with the best in this country and abroad."