A DAMNING new report has criticised the quality of the sea water off three beaches in the region.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has rated 779 beaches in the UK in its 2008 Good Beach Guide.

Its study looks at water quality standards and the risk of sewage pollution.

And across the North East and North Yorkshire it has failed only three of the beaches it tested.

These are Sandsend, Runswick Bay and Staithes, all near Whitby, in North Yorkshire.

In last year's guide, Runswick Bay was recommended by the MCS for its water quality, while Sandsend was given a basic pass.

But Staithes has now failed 16 times in the past 20 years of testing for the guide.

The three beaches are in Scarborough Borough Council's area of control.

John Riby, the council's head of technical services, said: "Clearly, we are disappointed with this rating.

However, the cause is most likely to be attributable to the excessive amount of rainfall that occurred during July 2007, which resulted in much surface water run off and discharges from storm water overflows.

"We would like to work with the Environment Agency and water companies to try to address this.

"As for agricultural run off, there appears to be a major challenge associated with agricultural processes and a degree of pragmatism is required without resorting to a completely sanitised environment."

The beaches were tested between May and September last year with the MCS blaming wet weather for the bad results.

In the North-East area, which includes North Yorkshire, the MCS recommended 86 per cent of the beaches.

But it found that across the UK, the number of beaches failing the minimum standard more than tripled from 17 to 53.

Thomas Bell, the MCS coastal pollution officer, said: "These MCS results buck the long trend of cleaner bathing water, but we're pinning the blame on last year's exceptionally bad weather.

"Heavy rain sweeps pollutants like raw sewage, street debris and animal waste directly from the land into rivers and the sea.

"Not all beaches are affected, but the problem for swimmers is knowing when and where this has happened.

"Poor quality bathing water carries health risks, so if this summer is wet, I'd advise people to use the guide to pick bathing beaches with a good record."

■ The Good Beach Guide can be