Eight beaches across East Lothian have been awarded the prestigious Scotland's Beach Award marking them amongst the very best nationwide.

The awards, run by Keep Scotland Beautiful, celebrate clean, well managed and sustainable beaches.

The environmental charity also look to identify beaches that demonstrate excellent beach management and environmental best practice, and the maintenance of high standards.

In 2023, there were 52 award winners across Scotland including Gullane Bents, Belhaven Bay, Longniddry Bents, Longniddry Gosford, North Berwick Milsey Bay and North Berwick West Beach, Dunbar East Beach and Yellowcraig.

All eight were also recognised last year at the same awards.

Fife led the way with 14 beaches recognised, while East Lothian came in joint second place alongside Aberdeenshire.

Gullane Bents is also celebrating an incredible 31 years of consecutively claiming the prize.

Jamie Ormiston, awards officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful said, “Scotland's Beach Awards are the benchmark for quality, celebrating clean, well-managed and sustainable beaches. Our award-winning beaches demonstrate excellent beach management and we hope that all who visit this year play their part in keeping them beautiful.

"I’d like to thank all those in East Lothian who do so much to protect, maintain and enhance our beaches, protecting the sand and sea for us all to enjoy.”

East Lothian Council’s spokesperson for community wellbeing, councillor Colin McGinn, said: "East Lothian’s beaches are popular attractions for local residents and visitors and it’s great that once again the hard work carried out by council staff and volunteers in managing and keeping the beaches at their best is recognised.”

In order to achieve Scotland’s Beach Award, a range of criteria must be met, including beach safety, access and facilities, and cleanliness.

Focusing on local environmental quality, the award is designed to complement the work undertaken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on bathing water quality.

A map showing all the award-winning beaches with directions, facilities and images can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/beach