CHRISTCHURCH Bay has been awarded the highest rating for water quality by the Environment Agency.

Inspectors gave the highest rating of three stars to Christchurch Bay, which spans across Milford-on-Sea in the New Forest and towards Sandbanks.

Cllr Steve Davies, New Forest District Council’s environment and coastal portfolio holder said: “This is great news, not only for our residents who can have complete confidence in the water quality at our beaches, but also for visitors to our area who might want to take a dip.”

The maximum three-star rating followed laboratory analysis of samples taken from the water.

The Environment Agency gauges water quality at designated bathing water sites around the English coastline.

From May to September, weekly assessments measure current water quality, and annual ratings are given based on measurements taken over a period of up to four years.

Visit gov.uk/quality-of-local-bathing-water to see the quality of bathing water anywhere in the country.