Mansfield MP Ben Bradley has won the Parliamentary Beard Of The Year competition, an online competition run by the Beard Liberation Front where members of the public vote for the MP with the best beard.

Ben, 28, is the first Conservative to win the title. Previous winners include Robin Cook, David Blunkett and Jeremy Corbyn.

He said: “It’s a bit of fun. I have enjoyed winning, of course, but on a serious note it’s a lovely compliment about the work I have been doing.

“It’s not an award for ‘best beard’ as such, but it’s about who has made an impact in politics, so it’s nice to be recognised.’’