The local tourism industry was given a shot in the arm this week with the news that six Pembrokeshire beaches have been awarded prestigious European Blue Flags.

The sextet, Lydstep, Newgale, Poppit Sands, Whitesands, Tenby Castle and Tenby South, are among 18 Welsh beaches and four marinas to be awarded Europe's premier accolade.

However, the news has been tempered with a little disappointment, with Amroth beach among five to lose their Blue Flag status and both Tenby North and Saundersfoot failing to regain the awards lost last year.

The European Blue Flag is awarded in over 20 countries to beaches and marinas that can demonstrate a high standard of safety, cleanliness and water quality.

Although the number of Blue Flags is slightly down on last year's record haul, Mr. Bob Gilchrist, director of Keep Wales Tidy, who administer the award in the Principality, felt that the awards were "a shot in the arm for our tourist industry after months of despair caused by the Foot and Mouth outbreak."

Further good news came with the announcement that 21 rural beaches had qualified for the Green Coast award, eight of them in Pembrokeshire.

This award recognises beaches that pass the guideline water quality mark, but do not have the level of infrastructure associated with the more urban and traditional beaches.

Local winners were Manorbier, Barafundle, Broadhaven South, Caerfai, Martins Haven, Marloes, Abereiddy and St. Brides.

Representatives of the award winning beaches and marinas will be presented with their awards by Mr. Philip Evans, chairman of the Wales Tourist Borad, at a special ceremony at the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, next Friday.