PSYCHOLOGIST Richard Stephens has won a science writing award – after producing a piece about smiling.

The Keele University academic, whose research expertise includes the psychology of swearing and the cognitive effects of hangovers, turned to a more upbeat subject for his latest work.

His entry for the Wellcome Trust's Science Writing Prize, called 'Don't say cheese, say cheeks', has now earned him £1,000.

The piece was picked from hundreds of entries submitted by professional scientists.

The competition's aim was to help bring academic topics alive for the general public.

Dr Stephens will now see his piece published in either The Guardian or Observer newspaper.