The sands at Weston-super- Mare and Burnham-on-Sea have received awards for quality the second year running.

The Quality Coast Awards (QCA) were launched in April 2007 and recognise different types of beaches throughout England that achieve the very highest standards.

Although Weston and Burnham beaches did not gain the top Blue Flag award, they were given Quality Coast Awards.

They were specifically accredited for achieving good standards in several areas including water quality, cleanliness and provision of litterbins.

On Weston-super-Mare's award, Felicity Baker, executive member for tourism on North Somerset Council, said: "A tremendous amount of work goes into achieving this award and maintaining these high standards throughout the year.

"This award is a direct result of all the hard work of council staff, the seafront and beach concessionaires and our various contractors."

Other areas examined in the awards are risk assessment and provision of public rescue equipment in peak season, disabled, pram and pushchair access, where reasonable, provision of well maintained toilets for all, signed car parking, enforcement of dog ban/control orders and information points located at main beach access points.

Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman Sam Elliott said: "The presence of car parks, toilets, information centres, as well as beach cleanliness and water safety, are taken into consideration before awards are granted.

"Bathing water data supplied from the Environment Agency during the past few days shows that the quality of our water is excellent.

"The water quality testing was sampled at Burnham-on- Sea, Berrow and Brean."

This year a total of 113 English beaches received QCAs, 31 more than last year.

The QCA has been developed over the past three years consulting with the public, beach managers and safety advisors like the RNLI.

It replaces the Seaside Award and is run by ENCAMS, the independent environmental charity behind the Keep Britain Tidy campaign and environmental programme Eco-Schools.

Once a beach has been awarded a QCA, trained surveyors continually monitor the beach over the three-year award period to ensure that visits to the beach will be of the highest quality.

Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Phil Barton said: "Holidaying in this country is the perfect way of saving money and having a great time.

"Whether it's a question of variety, accessibility or value for money, enjoying our wonderful beaches is the ideal way to recharge your batteries.

"So instead of worrying about exchange rates, baggage handlers or forgetting passports, we're urging people in England to make the most of their own magnificent coastline."