What do the Archbishop of Canterbury and Welsh crooner Tom Jones have in common?

They are joint winners of the Beard of the Year title, handed out by the Beard Liberation Front, an informal network of beard wearers.

Keith Flett, the group’s organiser, said Dr Rowan Williams’ flowing beard had an “organic” look.

He added: “The votes were too close to call and so they have shared the title.

“A concern this year was beardism, irrational prejudice against the hirsute, and while Tom Jones’ sex symbol status overrode this, it was certainly a factor for other winners.”