Are these the most beautiful people in the UK?

An expert in facial mapping has carried out a study to create the faces of the "most beautiful" men and women in the UK.

Using an e-fit computer program normally used to draw pictures of wanted criminals, Dr Chris Solomon asked people in the UK to draw what they believed was the perfect face.

The images were then judged by another 100 people who rated them for attractiveness. The results enabled researchers to make composite pictures of the most idealised features.

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Solomon, a reader in physics at the University of Kent, said the study revealed "some interesting results about what Brits consider to be the epitome of beauty".

For example, it highlighted differences between men and women's perceptions of ideal beauty, reports the Daily Telegraph.

"For the male face of beauty, women drew a more feminine face than men," said Solomon. Women rated a softer jaw-line, a slimmer face, fuller lips and a clean-shaven look as the most attractive features on a man, while men rated a more masculine look in other men.

For the ideal female face, women rated fuller lips, a slimmer face, large eyes and higher cheekbones more than the male participants.

"It's important to note that these are the idealised faces according to those living in the UK, so a study in Asia or Africa for example would no doubt have different results," added Solomon.

The two-month study was put together with EFIT-V PhotoFit software used by police forces throughout the UK. The computer program is designed to take into account the thickness of lips, nose length and width, eyes and hairline.

Participants were also asked to name the celebrities they believed were the most attractive. Model David Gandy and actress Natalie Portman came top.