TWO of Brighton and Hove's beaches have won back their blue flags.

Last year the city missed out on the prestigious awards, but the city has won them back for Hove beach and Brighton Central - which stretches west of the Palace Pier to the Peace statue.

The Environment Agency classified all four of the city's beaches as having ‘excellent’ water quality.

After failing to win the flags a year ago, calls were made for more collaboration over the regeneration of the seafront, as part of The Argus's Seafront 2020 campaign

And councillor Gill Mitchell, the council's environment and transport committee chairwoman, said it was one of the incoming Labour administration's "main priorities" to return the flags to the city .

So she was really pleased one year on.

She said"This was one of our first issues we dealt with coming into power and I'm absolutely delighted at this news.

"This is something the city should be really prod of.

"The flags are a benchmark that are recognised worldwide.

"It's reassurance for residents and visitors and as we come into the summer season it is really welcome."

St Leonards Marina Beach also managed to bring back the blue flag this year and West Wittering kept its flag.

Saltdean, Bognor East and Littlehampton also secured the coastguards' award for having high quality beach management.

The blue flag awards are the international quality mark for beaches - awarded by Keep Britain Tidy - acting as a guarantee that a beach is among the finest in the world. Beaches must meet a stringent list of more than 30 different criteria to make the grade.

Keep Britain Tidy’s coastal award manager Paul Todd said: “Visitors can be sure that a Blue Flag or Seaside Award-winning beach is one of the best in the world.”

Councillor Alan Robins, chairman of the economic development and culture committee, said: “We’re looking forward to a great summer in Brighton and Hove. Having our bathing beaches described as excellent is the icing on the cake. Our seasonal lifeguards start on May 28 and we’re hoping for some warm Bank Holiday weather for all our visitors.

“There is a lot of improvement work going on at the moment but as the previous Bank Holiday showed people love coming here to enjoy the beach.”