The North East's beaches have won four Blue Flag and eight Seaside awards from Keep Britain Tidy

The North East has some of the best beaches in the country, new awards show.

A number of beaches on Tyneside have been given awards by Keep Britain Tidy, with four - Longsands and King Edwards Bay in Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and Sandhaven Beach in South Shields - rewarded for their exceptional cleanliness and water quality with a coveted Blue Flag.

Its fantastic news for everyone who loves visiting the seaside that 12 beaches will be flying a flag in the North East that guarantees the public the best facilities and the cleanest beaches this summer, Richard McIlwain, of Keep Britain Tidy, said.

We know that for many holiday makers and daytrippers clean, safe beaches, with good water quality and facilities are important factors in deciding which beach to visit and the continuing quality of management at these beaches is a real testament to the dedication, hard work and investment that local authorities and other beach managers put in year after year.

Steve Dryden

Readers' pictures of the best beaches in the North East

We have some fantastic coastline and we know that communities up and down the country love their beaches.

They provide opportunities for people to get outside, relax and have fun for free, while visitors to our beaches often provide support for local jobs and inward investment at sea front resorts.

Read more:

North East beaches are among the best - and now it's official!