A Fife beach has been rated among the worst for bathing in Scotland, but locals hope it will be for the last time.
Kinghorn Beach was one of only a handful to have its water quality rated as poor by environment agency, Sepa, due to sewage pollution.
It is anticipated a sewer upgrade by Scottish Water completed after the classifications were set, will yield better results for next year.
Other Courier Country beaches fared better in the 2019 bathing water grades.
Top marks went to Aberdour Silver Sands, Anstruther Billow Ness, Crail (Roome Bay), Elie (Harbour) and Earlsferry, Elie (Ruby Bay), Kingsbarns, St Andrews West Sands, Broughty Ferry and Montrose.
Rated good were Aberdour Black Sands, Burntisland, Kinghorn (Pettycur), Kirkcaldy (Seafield), Leven, St Andrews East Sands, Arbroath (West Links), Carnoustie and Monifieth.
Kinghorn Beach was among four out of 86 designated bathing waters classed as poor.
The Scottish Green’s environment spokesman Mark Ruskell MSP said: “It’s extremely disappointing to note that a significant number of beaches have once again been rated as poor because of pollution by sewage.
“In the case of Kinghorn significant investment in new infrastructure should ensure that this is the last year that it gets this poor rating, but many other communities are still waiting for investment from Scottish Water and others to turn their poor ratings around.”
A Scottish Water spokeswoman said: “Scottish Water carried out a £700,000 project in Kinghorn to install new pipes, a new combined sewer overflow and a storm tank.
“We also rehabilitated some sections of the sewer system.
“This will help to improve local bathing water and ensure we can continue to deliver reliable, resilient and sustainable waste water services to our customers long into the future.”
SNP Councillor Lesley Backhouse welcomed the Scottish Water investment and said it should make a difference to next year’s results.
“There was a problem with the overflow and pipework but Scottish Water have spent a considerable amount of money upgrading it and increasing capacity,” she said.
“Kinghorn is a holiday town and a retiral town and has such a good reputation for being friendly and welcoming to visitors.”
Calum McPhail, Sepa environmental quality manager, said: “It is great news that more bathing waters have met the excellent standard than since the new tighter standards first came into force in 2015 and we are also pleased to reveal that fewer bathing waters are rated as poor.”
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “I am pleased to see so many of our designated bathing waters meeting the strict environmental water quality standards, and that a growing number are achieving the top rating.
“While a trip to the beach may always be dependent on our unique Scottish summer, beachgoers can have confidence that our bathing waters are being constantly monitored and their quality ensured.”
