A local council is to investigate after a Cumbrian beach was deemed 'the dirtiest in the UK'.

Retailer Cartridge Save says it recently discovered that Haverigg beach in Millom was the worst in a list of top ten of dirtiest beaches in the UK.

The study analysed water quality by examining levels of E. coli bacteria and intestinal enterococci, alongside TripAdvisor visitor reviews for each location.

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The beaches were then ranked based on a 'water cleanliness' score ranging from zero to 10 - with 10 representing the best condition.

Haverigg was found to be the 'dirtiest' in the UK, with a water cleanliness score of just 2.16.

The only other Cumbrian beach listed was Seascale with a 'water cleanliness' rating of 7.28.

Southend Westcliff Bay followed closely behind Haverigg with a water quality score of 2.76.

In third place was Fraisthorpe, Yorkshire with a Water cleanliness score of 3.83 followed by Hunstanon (Old Hunstanton) (6.34) and Littlestone, Kent (6.51).

In the latter five were Brighton Beach (6.92), Three Shells Beach, Essex (7.22), Seascale, Cumbria (7.28), Lancing, Beach Green (7.29) with Lowestoft, Suffolk at number ten (7.45).

Councillor Bob Kelly, Cumberland Policy and Regulatory Services Portfolio Holder, said: "This is a very disturbing report which Cumberland Council takes very seriously. 

"Haverigg is already a popular spot for local residents who use the beach every day and for visitors.

"The emphasis of the Millom and Haverigg Towns Fund developments is to make the area a key visitor attraction. 

"Cumberland Council will endeavour to work with all interested and involved parties to identify the causes of these problems and take every step to make Haverigg beach a very healthy and attractive place to visit and enjoy."

In 2016, the beach was deemed 'sufficient' by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which gave residents and visitors the green light to bathe in safety.

Despite the damning study, the beach continues to get many rave reviews on Trip Advisor with the visitor spot garnering 94 'excellent' reviews out of 163, with 50 of them 'very good'.