Pembrokeshire's beaches keep getting better. The county has been awarded a record number of 11 Blue Flags this year - two more than last year. This year's Blue Flag Awards - the most prestigious beach award in Europe - are due to be announced by Carwyn Jones, Welsh Assembly Minister for Environment Planning and the Countryside in Swansea later today (Friday). Dale and Broadhaven have been added to Pembrokeshire's growing list of prime beach spots. Other Blue Flag beaches are: Amroth, Lydstep, Newgale, Poppit Sands, Saundersfoot, Tenby Castle, Tenby North and Tenby South and Whitesands. The county now has almost twice as many Blue Flag beaches as any other county in Wales. Today's Blue Flag announcement follows news that Pembrokeshire has more award winning rural beaches than any other Welsh county winning 13 Green Coast Awards in April. Last month, 35 Pembrokeshire beaches were recommended for their excellent water quality by the Marine Conservation Society's Good Beach Guide, while earlier this year the county was awarded a record 33 entries in the ENCAMS Beach Guide. "These 11 Blue Flag Awards are wonderful news for Pembrokeshire," said Clr. Rob Lewis, Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet member for tourism. "We have always known that we have top quality beaches in Pembrokeshire and the awards we have been given this year confirm it. "To have 11 beaches worthy of Blue Flag status is a recognition of all the hard work that we, and other agencies, have done to achieve this. "Our beaches are the jewel in our crown and help make Pembrokeshire one of the best places in Britain to spend a holiday." This year, Wales as a whole has bucked the UK trend and been awarded a record 38 Blue Flags for its beaches plus three Blue Flag marinas. The prestigious European Award, which is run in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy, takes into account bathing water quality plus beach facilities such as public toilets and lifeguard provision.