A possible link between the popularity of beards and how under threat men feel is being investigated in the first ever academic study of beards.

The three year study is being carried out by the University of Exeter and the Wellcome Trust in the UK.

'Do Beards Matter?' will study facial hair and its relationship to health and hygiene in Britain between 1700 and 1918 - a period of extremes in facial hair trends.

Despite a prediction last year that 'peak beard' had been reached, they continue to be popular.

The project will survey a wide variety of sources to explore factors - including the relationship between facial hair and masculinity, the role of medicine and medical practitioners in beards and shaving, and the impact of shaving technologies on decisions to shave.

It will also look at a huge body of material - from images, portraits and satire, to personal sources such as diaries and letters to portraits, razor and shaving advertising.

The University of Exeter says: "The fascination between beards and hygiene is longstanding and still relevant".

In May, a story generated by a small-scale study led by a US news channel went viral, after claiming that beards can be as dirty as toilets because they can harbour some of the bacteria found in faeces.

Dr Alun Withey is research fellow and an expert in medical history at Exeter University

He says women's opinions are very important to the project.