Map of England’s most dangerous beaches to swim at - including popular North West tourist spot

An interactive map has revealed England’s most polluted beaches - and a seaside destination popular with Mancs has been included. Now that summer is around the corner people are keen to head to the coast and go for a dip in the sea.

Yet it isn’t always safe to go swimming as high levels of water pollution can be dangerous for bathers. A new map allows you to check which beaches near you are not safe enough for swimming by entering your postcode.

The map informs you if getting into the water is advised against. It also lets you know if the beach has lost its Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs designated swimming zone status.

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The water quality at each of them is regularly checked by the Environment Agency in order to ensure that they are safe for the public to use.

The water quality was so poor at 12 sites that they advise against bathing there.

Several popular spots across the UK feature on the map, including Scarborough and Bognor Regis. Blackpool North has also been highlighted for not being safe.

Blackpool North features on the map (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

According to the town’s cabinet member for climate change and environment, Cllr Jane Hugo, the problem has partly been caused by gulls congregating beneath the North Pier to eat the fish and chip scraps left there. The birds then defecate in the sea, contaminating the water.

Beaches where swimming is not advised

• St Mary's Bay, Kent

• Bognor Regis, West Sussex

• Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach, Dorset

• Watcombe, Devon

• Dunster Beach, Devon

• Instow, Cornwall

• Rock beach, Cornwall

• Ilfracombe, Devon,

• Burnham Jetty North, Somerset

• Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay, Somerset

• Weston Main, Somerset

• Wolvercote Mill Stream, Oxfordshire

• Blackpool North, Lancashire

• Wharfe at Cromwheel, Yorkshire

• Tunstall, Yorkshire

• Scarborough South Bay, Yorkshire

• Bridlington South Beach, Yorkshire

• Tynemouth Cullercoats, Tyneside

• Heacham, Norfolk

• Allonby South, Cumbria

• Silloth, Cumbria

• Clacton, Essex

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