Keep Britain Tidy awards Rutland Water reservoir, near Oakham, Blue Flag status and Seaside Award

A reservoir has rivalled the country’s best-loved coastal hotspots after winning two prestigious beach awards.

Rutland Water has taken its place alongside the golden sands of Sandbanks, in Poole, after its Sykes Lane beach was awarded the coveted Blue Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy

The environmental charity also handed the Rutland reservoir a Seaside Award, making it the first inland bathing water in England to achieve both awards.

Only 72 beaches across the country were awarded Blue Flag status, with Rutland Water one of just 61 sites to achieve the combined award status.

It is a timely boost for the beach which opens for bathing from Saturday, May 25.

“There is enormous pride today at Rutland Water in achieving these prestigious awards,” said Rutland Water general manager, Will Kirstein.

“Without doubt this is down to the care and passion and hard work and diligence of our entire team who work tirelessly to take care of the environment and ensuring water quality is constantly the very best it can possibly be.”

Alongside the two awards, Rutland Water already holds a Green Flag award which recognises excellence for park management, biodiversity and heritage preservation.

Sykes Lane is also now England’s first and only bathing location to fly a Blue Flag within a Green Flag awarded site.

The awards are aimed at improving the quality of England’s bathing waters and promoting the country’s best beaches.

Blue Flag is an international award, and its beaches must meet the ‘excellent’ water quality standard set by the European Union, while Seaside Award winners must meet the 'sufficient’ standard.

Beaches are assessed for safety and services, environmental information, water quality, and environmental management, including litter and waste.

Swimming isn’t allowed in most parts of the reservoir, but the Sykes Lane beach has become a regular feature at the water park during the summer and is supervised by fully-qualified lifeguards.

Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: “Visitors to a beach flying a Blue Flag can be assured the beach will be clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as international bathing water quality standards.”