The recent news that Frank Dobson has been told to shave off his beard to make him more electable for Mayor of London and has refused prompted the Cornish Times to change location and take to the streets of Callington to ask: 'Do you trust men with beards?'

Sylvia Hewitson is not bothered about men with beards, she said: 'As long as it is kept clean, combed and tidy I don't mind beards, it's the person inside that matters.'

Jane Harverson from Pridhams electrical shop said: 'Many people say not to trust a man with a beard because he's hiding his face.

'In general, I think it makes them look a bit shifty but Steve Pridham has a beard and you couldn't not like or trust him.'

When asked why he grew a beard, Steve Pridham replied: 'I was in the Merchant Navy and I got fed up with shaving. I was in the middle of the ocean at the time so it didn't matter. It has just stayed there ever since.'

Another of his staff, Margaret Martin commented: 'Beards don't make any difference to me, if a man has a weak chin a beard can help to cover it up and enhance his features.

'I don't see why Frank Dobson's beard should make any difference to his electability.'

A customer who joined in with the 'beard debate' was Ann Savage, who commented: 'I think it suits most men, well, the ones that have them. As long as it's kept well groomed, clean and tidy, I don't see any problem with it.'

With strong opinions on beards in general is Denise Winfindale who definitely doesn't like beards because she feels like they're hiding something.

Her colleague, Pam Browning, said: 'I have no strong feelings either way, but I think that beards should be kept nice and tight to the face, trimmed, clean and tidy.'

Another beard wearer is a former teacher at Callington Community College, Duncan Jackaman who, when asked why he grew a beard replied: 'I grew one when I was a student, my daughter saw a photo of me like that and dared me to grow it back when I was on holiday.

'It has just stayed there since.'

There are many different views on beards, some that like them, some that don't, and some people that don't think beards really matter and that it is the person under it which is the main concern, but the one thing that remains clear on any account is that a beard should be clean, tidy and well groomed (and minus any lunch!).