Always blue

CULLERA castle has hosted a 36th anniversary celebration for European Blue Flag winners.

The flags acknowledge beach quality and are awarded every May by an international jury. Just eight Spanish towns have been annual winners since the first awards in 1987, with seven of them in Valencia.

The long-standing winners are Alicante (Playa de San Juan); El Campello (Playa Carrer la Mar); Calpe (La Fossa); Alfaz del Pi (Raco de l’Albir); Alcala de Xivert (El Carregador); Cullera (Sant Antoni); and Gandia (Playa Nord).

shocking 135 fires were started around the Valdes, Villayon and Tineo areas.

“The fires were set by terrorists,” President of Asturias Adrian Barbon insisted.

“They are real organised criminals.”

Devastated

Meanwhile, in Cantabria firefighters were dealing with 28 fires at the weekend.

Last year Spain had nearly 500 serious wildfires which devastated 306,000 hectares - three times more than in 2021.

A serious lack of rain is feared to be set to make 2023 even worse.

Visitors charged

TOURISTS visiting Benitatxell’s Cala del Moraig and its surrounding coves will have to pay a car park charge of up to €12 per day between 9am and 7pm until October 15. But parking will be free for residents who pay the circulation tax (IVTM) in the municipality.

Extra cops

AN extra 34 police officers have been deployed to Alicante airport in time for the Easter holiday season - a staffing rise of over 30%.