A RECORD seven North-East beaches have met the highest European standards to win coveted Blue Flag awards.

The awards, announced by environmental body Encams, are given to beaches meeting strict criteria for water quality, safety standards and onshore facilities.

In previous years, the region has fared badly in assessments as a result of its industrial past, which left many beaches ruined, never winning more than a single Blue Flag each time.

But this year, in time for the Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday, it has attracted most of the 14 new Blue Flags awarded in the UK.

The successful beaches are Sandhaven in South Shields; Cullercoats in North Tyneside; King Edwards Bay in Tynemouth; Seaburn and Roker in Sunderland; Whitley Bay in North Tyneside; and Hartlepool Marina.

The awards follow the region's success in having 13 beaches included in the Marine Conservation Society's Good Beach Guide for the first time last month.

Both achievements reflect the £700m investment in high-tech sewage treatment facilities and other water quality measures taken by Northumbrian Water since 1990.

The organisation has been given an honorary Blue Flag to fly at its headquarters at Pity Me, County Durham, in recognition of its efforts.

The region's record number of Blue Flags was reflected nationally, with an unprecedented 83 beaches winning them, compared with 55 last year.

Coming on the eve of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations, the results contrast with the situation in 1977, when she celebrated her silver jubilee.

Then, many North-East beaches were blighted by sewage and pollution, and monitoring was patchy and inadequate.

Environment Minister Michael Meacher said: "The British seaside has never been as safe and clean as it is today, thanks to initiatives such as Blue Flag.

"A massive water quality investment programme has given us the cleanest waters since the Industrial Revolution."