BATHING water at Shaldon main beach has failed quality tests three times this summer, the Environment Agency has revealed.

Twice, the standard only reached the minimum during the five months testing period.

Full details of the water quality standards will be published in November after the full season has finished and the data can be analysed but so far, Shaldon beach has recorded failures twice in June and once at the end of August.

The summer's record rainfall, making 2012 the wettest for 100 years, has been blamed for the unusually high numbers of poor results, with some beaches failing which have never failed before.