Record number of English bathing sites have poor water quality, finds Environment Agency

Three beaches in Weston-super-Mare were called out for having ‘poor’ water quality - (Getty Images)

A record number of England’s official swimming spots have failed to meet water quality standards for bathing this year, figures have revealed.

In 2024, 450 bathing waters in England, including 27 new sites regularly used by swimmers during summer, were tested for water pollution.