Beaches in Sussex are among the best and have some of the cleanest seawater in the UK, according to the latest report.

The Good Beach Guide 2002 says 17 out of 32 Sussex beaches tested by the Marine Conservation Society meet the highest standards for cleanliness.

At all the beaches, the MCS was satisfied the bathing waters posed minimal or no risk from sewage contamination and it said they were among the best places in the country to take a dip.

To gain an MCS recommendation, 100 per cent of samples taken by inspectors must meet European Community standards which check for raw, screened or primary treated sewage in the seawater.

None of the county's beaches failed the EC mandatory standards for health and cleanliness.

However, the rest of the county's seaside hotspots tested were given a mandatory pass, which means 95 per cent of the samples tested for sewage derived bacteria met the standards set by the European Community.

The beaches passed the minimum legal requirements for water quality but the MCS said studies have shown these are inadequate, with some sewage derived bacteria in the water which could pose a risk to human health and could leave swimmers with stomach upsets and similar illnesses.

Beaches in East and West Sussex which passed the higher MCS standards and which are recommended by the guide include West Wittering, East Head West Wittering, Bracklesham Bay, Selsey, Selsey - Hillfield Road, Pagham, Bognor Regis, Felpham, Middleton-on-Sea, Littlehampton, Southwick, Saltdean, Newhaven West Quay, Seaford Bay, Cuckmere Haven, Birling Gap and Norman's Bay.

Beaches which did not meet the higher standards, but did get a mandatory pass include Bognor Regis East, Littlehampton - Norfolk Road, Littlehampton - Coast Guard Station, Worthing, Sourth Lancing, Hove, Brighton Kemp Town, Newhaven, Eastbourne, Pevensey Bay, Bexhill, St Leonards, Hastings, Winchelsea and Camber.

The seaside spots were among 795 beaches monitored by the MCS between May and September 2001, of which 341 met their high standards for in the Good Beach Guide.

The survey found that the number of beaches failing the minimum European standard has fallen to 61, from 90 last year.