A BEACH in the region has been given the unenviable distinction of being the worst in England.

Staithes was the only beach in the country that failed to meet even the most basic standards of the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which publishes its 20th Good Beach Guide today.

The North-East as a whole faired well in the survey with 77.5 per cent of beaches monitored receiving a recommendation.

This means they have the highest quality of water with adequate treatment of any continuous sewage discharges.

The South-West is the only region to enjoy a higher percentage of recommendations this year.

Across the UK, 63 per cent of beaches tested were recommended. This figure is almost quadruple the number recommended ten years ago.

Thomas Bell, coastal pollution officer for the society, said: "This is great news for the thousands of holidaymakers heading to the British coast this summer.

"Britain's beaches used to be awash with sewage and the Good Beach Guide drew a line in the sand twenty years ago for what was acceptable. Today, we're enjoying the benefits of that campaign."

A recommendation is the highest of four grades awarded by the society. The lowest is a fail and means that the EC mandatory standard for water quality has not been met.

Staithes failed to meet the European mandatory standard for the fourth year in a row - despite having a high-tech UV sewage treatment plant.

Yorkshire Water has spent £120m on modern treatment facilities boasting ultra-violet disinfection at Whitby, Filey, Scarborough and Bridlington.

Smaller plants have also been built in Staithes - where there is a particular problem caused by, among other things, run-off from agricultural land - Runswick Bay, Sandsend, Robin Hood's Bay, Hornsea and Withernsea.

Mr Bell said: "Staithes is a real bugbear for me. It fails year after year after year, and I would like to know why. It hasn't met the standards for four years in a row. It has a high grade sewage treatment plant there, but it never hits even a basic pass."

MCS is working with the RNLI to promote the summer launch of its Beachwise national beach safety initiative on May 24, which will encourage the public to swim only at lifeguarded beaches.

The Good Beach Guide 2007, which is the only independent, comprehensive guide to bathing water quality in the UK, can be viewed at www.goodbeachguide.co.uk