Ben Wykes is taking his handlebar moustache to the World Championships

A moustache enthusiast from Hackney who took his whiskers to the first ever British Beard and Moustache Championships has won third place.

A moustache enthusiast from Hackney who took his whiskers to the first ever British Beard and Moustache Championships has won third place.

Ben Wykes, 27, of Anton Street, is a designer for Burberry and entered the ‘Handlebar Moustache’ competition in Brighton.

“I saw the competition on Facebook and decided to grow a moustache for it. I’ve had one on and off for four years but this one took ten months to grow,” Mr Wykes explained.

The competition was hosted by The British Beard Club and the Handlebar Club to bring together and celebrate the country’s weirdest and most impressive facial hair.

“I have got mixed reactions about my moustache, some people think it’s amazing and some think it’s just hilarious,” he said.

“It takes about five to 10 minutes to style each day, I’ve had it so long, even my company think it’s a part of me now. It’s attached to me!”

Mr Wykes attended the championships with an entourage of eight friends all with printed t-shirts and won the English compeition against nine others.