In February, residents living in sunny Weymouth were riding the wave of being crowned 'best beach in the UK' for the fourth year running.
But just three months later, furious locals say their reputation has been 'smeared' after the town's main beach lost its prestigious Blue Flag status.
On the cusp of the busy summer season, the popular Dorset seaside town has been dealt a hammer blow after officials ruled it was no longer worthy of the prized status given to the UK's cleanest beaches.
Weymouth Central beach, which stretches along the stunning Jurassic Coast, lost its internationally recognised status given to beaches, marinas and sustainable tourism boats that meet environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.
Concerns were raised that Weymouth would lose its Blue Flag after the beach's water quality was downgraded from 'excellent' to 'good' by the Environment Agency at the end of 2024.
