Blackpool beach.

Blackpool beach. Image by Harry (Howard) Potts / CC BY 2.0

A record number of English beaches are at risk of failing European clean water standards. New EU regulations will make it harder for beaches to achieve an ‘excellent’ rating. 99% of English beaches passed the tests in 2014, but this could fall by 6%, leaving 25 beaches classed as ‘poor’. Some famous resorts are at risk, including Blackpool and Margate. Read more: travelweekly.co.uk