A sun-kissed Suffolk seafront, famous for its sandy shoreline and colourful beach huts, has retained coveted blue flag status for cleanliness, safety and water quality.

Southwold Pier is among a dozen stretches of East Anglian coastline to be awarded the international standard for the best beaches in the world.

Lowestoft’s Claremont Pier has also been handed the Blue Flag by Keep Britain Tidy, while 19 of the region’s beaches, including Kessingland, have received a Seaside Award – the environmental group’s own recognition for beaches that meet the highest standards for cleanliness and facilities.

On several occasions over the last few years, Southwold lost its grip on the Blue Flag before taking it back

It missed out in 2009 but regained the award in 2011. It missed out the following year – and again in 2013, when it instead won the Seaside Award. Last year it won back Blue Flag status, just six months after the region’s coastline was hit by the worst storm surge for 30 years.

Colin Law, Waveney District Council leader, said: “We are delighted that both Southwold and Lowestoft have retained their Blue Flag Awards for another year. This is excellent news for the Suffolk Coast and we hope it encourages even more people to visit our area this summer.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s coastal awards manager, Paul Todd said: “The public can be sure, if they visit a Blue Flag or Seaside Award winning beach, that they are visiting one of the best beaches in the world.”

Walton-on-the-Naze, in the Tendring district, is among three new recipients of the Blue Flag Award this year.

New Seaside Award winning beaches include Brightlingsea and Dovercourt Bay, which also retained blue flags along with Clacton and Frinton.