It is not often that he tops polls for his looks.

But Wayne Rooney has one of the most attractive noses in the country, according to researchers.

The Manchester United star's nose - or rather its snub shape - has been deemed among the most appealing by an academic who has completed what he claims is the first survey of its type to classify and record the different shapes of the human nose.

Before Rooney lets the compliment go to his head, however, he should know that those with snub noses are often viewed as lacking in maturity, warns the researcher.

Professor Abraham Tamir toured shopping centres in Europe and Israel, takingcandid photographs of people with interesting noses. He then sorted the 1,300 pictures and matched each with a face on a painting or other piece of art.

This revealed there to be 14 types of nose, with classifications ranging from 'fleshy' to 'celestial'.

The most common, particularly among men, was the fleshy nose, best illustrated by Prince Philip, which featured on almost a quarter of all the faces studied.

Writing in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, Professor Tamir says those with such a nose are likely to be generous, emotional, helpful and sensitive.

But it is not all good news. In the professor's opinion, both the 'fleshy' and the 'hawk' - such as Barbra Streisand's - are among the least attractive.

The Roman nose, seen on actor Tom Cruise, was sported by almost 9 percent, who were ambitious, courageous and clear-thinking.

Another classic, the Greek, as borne by Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, were found on just 3 percent.

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe joins the 9 per cent who sported an aquiline nose, said to symbolise a cool tactician with a business mind.

Some 13 per cent had celestial noses, with celebrity examples including actress Carey Mulligan.

These, the professor believes, are most attractive along with the snub noses found on 5 per cent, and seen on Wayne Rooney. But while the snub shape may be attractive, it is not necessary a blessing.

Professor Tamir, of Ben-Gurion University in Israel, said: 'The snub nose is a small nose sloping upwards at the tip. People with this frequently lack spiritual and physicalmaturity.'

Kate Middleton, however, can also claim an attractive nose. Her shape was frequently found in paintings, suggesting artists saw it as a thing of beauty.

(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)