TOURISM chiefs are riding the crest of a wave after the Island's four main resort beaches were awarded prestigious Blue Flags.

It is the biggest vindication of bathing water cleanliness on the Island since records began.

It means the beaches at Ryde East, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor are among the cleanest in Europe.

The four-strong haul also accounts for almost a third of the blue flags awarded in the region. Only one Island beach has previously flown a Blue Flag - Colwell in 1993.

This week's announcement is also a welcome boost for the holiday trade that suffered an early season blow through the SARS controversy and the decision to quarantine 140 students from the Far East in Bonchurch.

Isle of Wight Council spokesman John Fleming said that while the Blue Flag success was "the best news the industry had had for 20 years" the council now had a battle to maintain the water quality and to improve shoreside facilities.

He added: "This is fantastic news and people can come here confident that we have some of Europe's best beaches.

"But it is no good if they come out of the sea to find the shoreside facilities do not match the bathing standards.

"More money has to go into supporting our tourism - that is a question we as a council have to address."

The news was also welcomed by Southern Water who said the plaudits vindicated its £200m Seaclean Wight sewage treatment scheme that attracted massive public outcry at the time it was conceived.

A spokesman said: "It proves water quality has improved as a result of the scheme.

"However, at the time there were quite a lot of people, up to the then deputy leader of the council, who thought they knew better. These Blue Flags vindicate what we have done."

Dave Groocock, chairman of the Island Tourist Industry Association, said: "It is good news that we desperately need. It means bathing around our waters is not only safe, but fantastic and I think we should really make some mileage from this."

Hal Matthews, marketing manager of Isle of Wight Tourism, said other awards were in place besides the Blue Flags.

"We have 13 beaches with seaside awards, 11 with top quality bathing water and now these four super de-luxe beaches.

"The other seven beaches were not eligible for the Blue Flag because they do not have facilities required, such as lifeguards, first aid and good access for disabled visitors."