ALREADY the holder of a prestigious Blue Flag, Dawlish Warren has now been voted the fifth best resort beach in the country.

Entered along with 171 others, the Warren came out with an incredible 94 per cent for water quality, sand, cleanliness, signs and dog fouling in the Seaside Awards.

Organised by ENCAMS – the group behind the Keep Britain Tidy campaign – the awards have been honouring the best in UK beaches since 1992. They are presented to those resort and rural beaches that are well managed.

This includes providing ample facilities such as showers, a lifeguard and enforcing a dog ban during the seasonal months.

The Environment Agency tests bathing water quality and only those beaches that have passed the EU minimum legal standards, as well as the strict management criteria, are allowed to fly the Seaside Award flag.

Dawlish councillor Ted Hockin said: 'The terrific news that Dawlish Warren has come fifth out of all the beaches in the UK is due to sheer hard work of all those concerned.

'With results like these the Warren has a great future but we must not become complacent and continue to build on this success.'

The past year has been fruitful for the area with a new flood defence scheme being installed, visitor centre refurbished, department stores rebuilt, improvement of drainage in car parks and flowerbeds have had brambles removed and been replanted.

Town councillor Hazel Percy said: 'My family are coming down here on Easter Sunday and I have no doubt that we will go there. The Warren is looking very tidy and I hope people will spend a lot of their time enjoying themselves in beautiful, clean and safe surroundings.'

Devon as a whole claimed 33 award-winning beaches with the top in the country being in Bournemouth.

Amanda Booth, regional director of ENCAMS said: 'There will be celebrations all round the south west because of the hard work beach managers put in bringing the beaches up to scratch to scoop the award. With more winning beaches than any other English region, the brilliant news is sure to boost tourist numbers.'

She added: 'Our beaches may be getting better but we must continue working to maintain them and to improve others.

'By choosing a Seaside Award winning beach in the south west, parents and grandparents can rest assured that their kids are playing on one of the best beaches in the UK.'