BLUE after losing the flag for their fine beach, Aberdour residents were left feeling green after discovering another award had gone. 

In July, the Keep Scotland Beautiful banner for Silver Sands had to be lowered after water tests didn't meet the required standard. 

And now a "technicality" means the village no longer has its green flag, awarded for the quality of its parks and green spaces. 

Willie Dryburgh, of Aberdour Community Council, said: "That news really pulled the rug from under our feet and we're still not sure how it happened. 

"A previous member, Jane Halleran, worked very hard to get the green flag for Aberdour. 

"We found out something was wrong when my wife, who is chair of the Village in Bloom committee, was taking the judges round for the Scotland in Bloom contest.

"She mentioned that Silver Sands had the blue flag for its beach and the green flag for its environmental excellence, only for a Fife Council official to point out we didn't have it."

Keep Scotland Beautiful, who also hand out the prestigious green flags, previously recognised Silver Sands and Hawkcraig parks as worthy of the award. 

But the environmental charity's list of winners for 2016-17 shows just one in West Fife, Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline. 

Mr Dryburgh added: "Our input left when Jane left. 

"Part of the criteria was a management plan which was handed over to Fife Council. We seem to have lost the green flag as they didn't keep the plan updated."

Kevin O'Kane, Fife Council's greenspace officer, said: "We were all disappointed not to be awarded a green flag for Silver Sands and Hawkcraig Point. 

"While judges were pleased with how the park looked we failed to be awarded the flag through a technicality.

"We are currently revising the management plan so it takes into account the judges comments from 2015 and we will submit a new application.

"We will be working with the community council on this new submission and we are confident we will regain the flag in 2017."

The Press reported in July that Aberdour lost its international blue flag status for the first time in 15 years due to a failure to meet top EU Bathing Water Directives. 

Tests in June and July showed it didn't meet Intestinal Enterococci standards. 

Keep Scotland Beautiful said Silver Sands had passed 32 strict criteria "but unfortunately the blue flag only recognises beaches across the world with the top water quality". 

It can still fly the Scottish Seaside Award flag.

Mr Dryburgh said: "Unfortunately, Silver Sands beach is surrounded by fields and farms so anything a farmer puts on the fields will eventually makes its way down to the beach. 

"When people come to test the water quality, it could be a bad day when it's leaching and you don't get the blue flag. And it could be perfectly fine the next day."