Half the beaches in Sussex have passed water quality standards which could earn them a Blue Flag award.

Thirteen beaches reached the European Commission higher standards, two more than last year, which means they can apply for the award, it was announced today.

Seaford, Littlehampton, Middleton-on-Sea, Norman's Bay, Felpham, Bognor and Selsey achieved the water quality standards this year after failing last year.

Birling Gap, Saltdean, Southwick, Pagham, Bracklesham Bay and West Wittering, which already has a Blue Flag, maintained standards.

Hove, Newhaven, South Lancing, Winchelsea and Bognor East, which all reached the standards last year, could not repeat them this year and are no longer eligible to apply for a Blue Flag. Bognor East will be stripped of its flag.

Brighton, Camber, Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill, Pevensey Bay, Eastbourne and Worthing did not reach the required level last year or this year.

All the beaches meet the EC's Bathing Water Directive which means they are safe to swim and play in.

The right to apply for a Blue Flag depends on whether the beaches meet higher guideline standards.

Swimmer Henry Law, 60, of Brighton, said the Brighton and Hove resorts should be given a brown flag because the seafront was neglected.

He said: "I would give them a dark brown flag. I don't think the council considers the sea and seafront important enough and fails to put resources into it."

Mr Law said city status should have only been granted if both resorts could show they could earn and hold on to a Blue Flag.

Brighton-based Richard Gregory, of Surfers Against Sewage, was not surprised Hove and other resorts failed to make the grade.

He said: "When you are out in the water sometimes it tastes peppery and you can smell detergent and you know you are swimming in sewage."

Surfers Against Sewage wants Southern Water to treat sewage before it is discharged into the sea.

It wants the effluent to be treated to kill off 99.9 per cent of any bacteria which may be present in the sewage pumped out to sea.

A Southern Water spokesman said the firm was intrigued how it could have failed to reach the higher water standard levels at Bognor East when it had improved sewage treatment with the new works at Ford.

It had also improved its process at Newhaven, he said.