Three beaches lose blue flags

Three Irish beaches have lost their blue-flag status for this year after failing to meet basic standards of cleanliness.

A total of 83 blue flags have been awarded in Ireland this year, but beaches at Enniscrone in Co Sligo, Culdaff in Co Donegal and Doonbeg in Co Clare have all failed to meet the mark.

The main problems are vandalism, littering, the destruction of sand dunes and people failing to clean up after their dogs.

Campaigners are calling on people to be more environmentally aware in order to avoid the loss of any further flags in the coming years.