BATHING waters at several popular beaches in the region have been declared unfit for bathing in the latest European survey.

Staithes, on the North Yorkshire coast, Marske, on Teesside, Marsden, at South Tyneside, Tynemouth, and Spittle, in Northumberland, do not meet the requirements of the EU's Bathing Water Directive.

The European Commission's survey covers the year 2000 bathing season and monitors national efforts to meet the directive's aim of avoiding or drastically reducing sewage discharge into the sea.

The results show that 95 per cent of UK coastal resorts now have acceptable or good water quality.

Andrew Panting, head of communications for Northumbria Water, which has responsibility for Marske, Marsden and Tynemouth, said the company had invested £750m in the last 11 years.

It was now using a highly-specialised ultra violet system to eradicate pollutants which are traditionally blamed on water companies.

"In future, if the beaches fail it is entirely because of other reasons such as agricultural run-offs," said Mr Panting.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water, which is responsible for Staithes, said: "This doesn't take into account all the work that has come on line this year which will see vast improvements.

"This includes four waste water treatment works to cover the whole of the Yorkshire coast."

For the first time, the European Commission's report marks down Lake Windermere as failing to comply with minimum water quality standards, first set down in 1976.

A total of 33 spots around the country got the thumbs down from Brussels.

More than a third of these places were along the North-East coast and South-East Scotland.

Nevertheless, the UK was praised by the Commission yesterday for its efforts to comply with cleanliness standards at 551 coastal regions and 11 inland freshwater resorts around the country.