Eleven beaches in Northern Ireland won a Seaside Award

Tidy NI claimed the awards which celebrate beach cleanliness were "the BAFTAs of the seaside industry".

Beaches were marked on amounts of litter, clean water, disabled access, and toilet and car parking facilities.

Downhill in County Londonderry is a newcomer on the list. Others honoured include Benone, Tyrella, Warrenpoint, Millisle, and three in Portrush.

Ballycastle, Cranfield West and Portstewart also made the grade.

The charity said Downhill beach had finally won the award because, although its waters had met the qualifying criteria in previous years, the extra bins, disability access and quality toilet facilities made the difference this year.

NI SEASIDE AWARD WINNERS Ballycastle Benone Strand Cranfield West Downhill Millisle Lagoon Portstewart Strand Portrush East Strand Portrush West Strand Portrush White Rocks Tyrella Warrenpoint

The UK-wide Seaside Awards are partly organised by Tidy Northern Ireland in conjunction with the environmental campaign group ENCAMS.

Charity spokesman Ian Cole paid tribute to those who had worked to help these beaches win these awards.

"A lot of hard work goes into achieving a Seaside Award: it is no mean task and the benefits definitely pay off in terms of tourism and the amount of visitors to Northern Ireland's winning beaches," he said.

He said it was "vital" that visitors played their part in keeping beaches clean as there was "only so much beach managers can do".