The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) is drafting plans to help improve 17 Scottish beaches rated as poor for water quality by the European Union.

Of Scotland's 84 beaches officially designated as bathing waters, 17 have been classed as excellent, including Dornoch, Largs, Achmelvich and Broughty Ferry.

Another 38 are rated as good,  12 are classed as standard and 17 are rated as poor.

Those given poor ratings under new tighter EU water quality standards include popular spots at Nairn, Stonehaven, Portobello, Prestwick and Yellowcraig.

Sepa said improvement plans are being drawn up to help the beaches gain at least a sufficient rating by 2020.

Calum McPhail, Sepa environmental quality manager, said: "It is encouraging to see that the majority of Scotland's bathing waters are performing so well under the new directive, which has introduced much stricter standards for bathing water quality.

"However, we understand that some local communities will be disappointed, as we are, that 17 bathing waters have been rated as having a 'poor' EU classification, and many will be concerned when the new classifications are displayed on these beaches for the first time this month.

"It is important to remember that a 'poor' classification does not necessarily mean that water quality is continually poor, and in many cases this is due to historic episodes of reduced water quality following heavy rainfall.