It’s not exactly a competition for the faint-hearted, but let’s hope there was no sting in the tale for any of these brave bee beard growers.

The remarkably daring men and women have got Ontario all abuzz after taking part in the tenth annual Clovermead Bee Beard Competition.

The contest sees four teams of competitors entice swarms of bees to the head and torso of a ‘beard grower’ before two winners are chosen by the audience and the official judges.

Beebearding is thought to date back to the 1700s when an English beekeeper discovered he could create a beard of bees by tying the queen to a thread around his neck and would parade through the streets wearing the unusual costume.

At the Clovermead competition however, once in place, the beards are weighed before each wearer goes on to strut their stuff and perform a little dance in front of the watching crowds.

The Bee Beard Champion is then chosen by judges, while the audience is also able to pick their Crowd Favourite.