A LLANBEDR barber has been crowned Wales’ best for the second year running.

Sophie Collins has been named Welsh champion in a national competition to find Britain’s best wet-shaving barber – and securing her place in the final round of the prestigious tournament.

Sophie, owner of Soph’s Barbers in Llanbedr, beat off razor-sharp competition from scores of other talented barbers at the Welsh regional final in Griffithstown in Britain’s Best Shave 2018.

She impressed the judges on a number of criteria, including shave preparation, razor technique, post-shave routine, health and safety and overall efficiency.

As well as winning the coveted Welsh title, Sophie, 26, will now go on to compete in the national final against seven other top barbers from across the country at this year’s Barber UK.

The two-day barber show takes place at the Birmingham NEC on 20 and 21 May, and promises to be a bigger and better celebration of British barbering than ever before.

Sophie said she was delighted to retain the coveted Welsh title, but was determined to go one step further this year and win the British crown.

Read the full story in this Thursday’s north editions of the Cambrian News