COME on in, the water's just fine! That's the message to Blackpool residents and holidaymakers alike as all eight bathing water areas along the Fylde Coast are finally given the thumbs up by the Environment Agency.

Bathing water from St Annes to Fleetwood has at last caught up and met with the strict standards set by the EU for the first time. This means it joins more than 30 across the North West and follows a glowing report on the quality of rivers in the region which was produced by the Environment Agency.

Tourism bosses are naturally ecstatic about the good news but are being cautious as there is still much work to be done until the beaches can boast "blue flag" status.

Head of tourism Jane Seddon commented: "It really is fantastic news for Blackpool. We can now publicise the beach as a major attraction in the resort. The council has been working hard, along with United Utilities and the Environment Agency, for a long time now and it is great that this has paid off and we can now confidently say it is safe to go into the sea."

When asked if there would be any signs or flags on the beaches to indicate their new status she replied: "Unfortunately not at present, but we will be striving ahead to achieve the prestigious blue flag status, which will involve a beach management programme and provide a designated bathing water area in the resort."

Council leader Roy Fisher said of the news: "It is absolutely brilliant -- it is something we have been striving for and I'm sure everyone must be pleased we have got it at last. However we need to be vigilant and keep up the good work."

Clive Gaskell, the Environment Agency's regional water quality manager said: "Increasing levels of compliance have been achieved as a result of a combination of hard work and heavy investment by the water industry in improving sewage systems.

"We are pleased with the continuing improvement in bathing water quality -- but our work does not end here. Achieving excellence in the quality of bathing water is an intrinsic element of the Agency's vision to improve and protect inland and coastal waters.

"We are continuing to work with water companies to improve coastal sewage systems, targeting investments to achieve the tighter guideline standards and researching long-term water quality problems to ensure even higher standards of bathing water quality for the future."