With warmer and sunnier days finally creeping in, many of us will likely plan to take a trip to one of the region's beaches in the near future.
Merseyside has some great coastal spots, with Formby in particular being frequently recognised as one of the best beaches in the country. But before you pack your Speedos, it's worth doing a little research to make sure you know where to find the cleanest beaches for swimming.
In April, the most polluted beaches in England were revealed after relentless sewage dumping by water companies. People were warned of a number of beaches to avoid.