MEN in Teignbridge could be sporting some of the best haircuts in the country, according to new research which puts the area joint top of a nationwide ranking.

The district has been crowned one of the UK’s best places for a trim, with its barbers achieving an impressive average Google rating of 4.85 out of five.

That puts Teignbridge level with Lincoln and the Vale of Glamorgan at the top of the rankings, which examined 258 council areas across the UK.

It also makes Teignbridge the highest-ranked area in Devon, beating neighbouring Torbay, which scored 4.81.

The research, carried out by hair transplant specialists, UK Hair Transplants, analysed Google reviews of barbers across the country to find out where customers were getting the best service.

Rather than judging residents’ actual hairstyles, the study used the ratings of local barbers as an indicator of haircut quality.

A total of 21,340 barbers with at least 20 reviews were included, accounting for more than 2.5 million reviews.

Teignbridge had 33 barbers featured in the research, with a combined total of 4,808 reviews. Just one of those businesses had an average rating of below 4.5 stars.

The area also had a lower proportion of negative feedback, with just 2.2 per cent of reviews giving barbers one or two stars, against a UK average of 4.1 per cent.

Adding to the district’s impressive performance, three of its barbers achieved a perfect five-star rating.

Elsewhere in the region, East Devon scored 4.8, Exeter scored 4.79 and Plymouth scored 4.75.

At the opposite end of the spectrum was Newham, with an average score of 4.54.

Dr Adam Ali, hair transplant surgeon at UK Hair Transplants, said: ‘People in Teignbridge can be pleased with this one, because a good barber matters more than most people think.