Winning by a whisker - Beard of the Year contest staged at Walsall pub

A brewery contest to find a man with the best facial hair to be featured in a pump clip was staged by Dudley's Fownes Brewing Co and staged at the Wheatsheaf pub, in Birmingham Road, Walsall.

And 28-year-old Michael Legge, from Rotherham, won the overall prize by more than a whisker.

His face will now be pictured on pump clip for a beer to be brewed by the firm later in the year.

There were four categories in all: full beard, pointed beard, moustache and free-style – with the winner of each going through to the grand final.

To reach the last stage Mr Legge, a joiner, beat off tough competition from Tipton's Ben Bennett in the full beard category.

Mr Bennett, a historical re-enactor from Ryland Close, celebrated his 56th birthday the day after the contest was held and said winning the competition would have been a wonderful present. I am really pleased with coming second in the category although I suppose it was disappointing not to make the final," he said.

"A lot of the people who were there take part in competitions regularly while I am only an amateur so I didn't do too badly.

James Fownes, who runs the brewery in Clarence Street, Upper Gornal with his brother Thomas, said: "It was a really successful event.

"We had around 30 competitors take part in the end with people coming in from all over the country from places like Scarborough, Essex and Somerset.