IT WAS a mixed bag of results for beaches in West Dorset after the results of Defra’s bathing water quality were released.

Beaches in West Bay, Seatown and Front Beach in Lyme Regis all passed the rigorous standards, but troublesome Church Cliff beach failed again.

West Bay and Seatown were both marked as excellent by inspectors, with Lyme Regis Front Beach being marked as good. It is a stark improvement on last year’s result for Front Beach, which failed last year’s tests.

South West Water has invested thousands of pounds into a new a 75-cubic metre storage tank at Uplyme Sewage Treatment Works and local residents have been asked to check drainage pipes to ensure they are fitted correctly to try and help improve the water quality at Church Cliff but it has still failed to pass the tests.

Church Cliff beach was also the only one in Dorset to have failed the tests.

Nationally, however, 97 per cent of England’s bathing waters passed the minimum standard with 63.6 per cent meeting the excellent standard.

Environment Minister Rory Stewart said: “Our bathing waters continue to get better, with 97 per cent meeting new, tougher standards.

"We continue working to further improve the quality of our water, and last year our coast was the cleanest it has ever been. Swimming is allowed and all beaches remain open; new EU standards are simply there to advise and inform the public on water quality.

“I want Britain’s beaches, seas and lakes to have the cleanest water in the world. We need everyone to help us achieve this – from government, water companies and councils to local communities.”