Are These Britain's Most Beautiful Faces?

As far as beauty goes, it doesn't get better than this.

Or at least that is what Britons taking part in a new facial mapping study have decided.

The study asked UK-based contributors to use computer e-fit software to put together a composite of what they considered the most attractive facial features.

The EFIT-V PhotoFit programme, usually used by British police to recreate the faces of wanted criminals, took into account factors including the thickness of lips, nose length and width, and hairline.

Those results were then judged by another 100 people who rated the images for attractiveness.

Researchers, led by Dr Chris Solomon, a world expert in facial mapping, then compiled those findings to create the images pictured above.

The two-month University of Kent study threw up "some interesting results about what Brits consider to be the epitome of beauty," Dr Solomon said.

"A study in Asia or Africa for example would no doubt have different results," he said.

The study, commissioned by Samsung, also revealed some key differences between men's and women's perceptions of ideal beauty.

"For the male face of beauty, women drew a more feminine face than men," Dr Solomon said.

"Women rate a softer jaw-line, slimmer face, fuller lips and clean-shaven look as the most attractive, compared to the more masculine appearance that is considered the most attractive by men.

"Interestingly, for the female face of beauty, women rated a sexier appearance as the most beautiful ...

"Women perceived fuller lips, a slimmer face, larger eyes and higher cheekbones as the most beautiful, more so than the male population," he said.