Fundraiser wins at national beard championships

Paul Ford won the category for full beard and moustache under an inch

A man raising money for an air ambulance trust is among the winners of the British Beard and Moustache Championships.

The biennial competition features 120 participants from around the world competing for glory in 20 categories.

Paul Ford, from Launceston in Cornwall, won first place for full beard and moustache under an inch in length.

He started growing his facial hair to raise money for Cornwall Air Ambulance (CAA), which wants to buy a second helicopter.

People taking part were competing for glory in one of 20 categories

Mr Ford told the BBC: "I've been told I look like Father Christmas or Papa Smurf.

"I keep [my beard] nicely trimmed so it's looking smart and I think they refer to [the style] as the business class."

CAA volunteer Mr Ford started growing a beard in July because he thought it would be a good opportunity to fundraise for the CAA's Heli 2 Appeal.

It hopes to raise £2.85m by 2025 to purchase a second AW169 aircraft.

The competition featured entrants from the US, Israel and mainland Europe

Competition organiser Becky Jones said the event in Plymouth on Saturday saw entrants from North America, Israel, Scandinavia and France.

"It's an international community of 'bearders' and very big in places such as the United States, [which has] a number of national competitions that contribute to the international scene."

Ms Jones, who is based in Tavistock, said there were some "wonderful shapes" on show.

"One of the guys in the moustache category, his moustache was so delicate he'd waxed it into the shape of two treble clefs," she said.

As well as beard categories, there were also moustache classes such as goatee, chops and side-burns, and those with a beard but no moustache at all - referred to as Amish or Whaler.

She added: "It's a wonderful community."