EPA classifies 102 of 142 bathing waters as ‘excellent’ and 18 as ‘good’ but warns about bacterial contamination caused by bird droppings

A number of the country’s best known beaches are expected to lose their Blue Flag status as a result of the devastation caused by recent storms.

Cork County Council has been urged to deploy more litter wardens on beaches after sun worshippers left some of them looking like rubbish tips.

A pilot scheme involving litter clean-ups by a Cork County Council hit squad is to be extended and CCTV cameras are to be used as part of a beefed-up campaign to tackle illegal dumping.