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Few months old story, but ironic:

Travellers have been ordered not to look too happy in their passport photographs to avoid confusing facial recognition scanners.

Toothy, open mouthed grins are being outlawed from the tiny 35mm by 45mm photographs because they will throw off scanners used at airports.

Long fringes and head coverings, are also banned, under the new regulations along with dummies in babies' mouths.

The new type of passports are being introduced in a bid to fight terrorism.

A Home Office spokesman said: "When the mouth is open it can make it difficult for facial recognition technology to work effectively."

The machines work by matching key points on the holder's face, such as the mouth and eyes, with the photograph.

'Neutral expression'

It is easier for it to recognise a neutral expression with the mouth closed.

Chief executive of the UK Passport Service (UKPS) Bernard Herdan said: "These new guidelines are an important step in the development of the new biometric ePassport and use of facial recognition technology that will be introduced in 2005 as part of the ongoing fight against fraud and international terrorism."

The UKPS is planning to implement a facial recognition image biometric in the British passport book from late 2005 to early 2006.

It is hoped the biometric image will help to counter identity fraud and verify the identity of the holder against the document.

The new rules say "photographs must show no shadows: your face looking straight at the camera, a neutral expression, with your mouth closed."

Head coverings

Eyes must be open and clearly visible, and there must be no sunglasses, tinted glasses or hair across the eyes, it adds.

Anyone who wears glasses must wear them at the end of their nose so they do not cover their eyes. They must also ensure the lenses do not produce reflections.

No head coverings are allowed unless they are worn for a religious belief.

The new photographic regulations are effective immediately but the Passport Service says it will exercise some flexibility until early 2005.

Existing passport holders will not need to have their current passports updated, but they will have to comply with the new guidelines when they renew their passports. [Source: BBC]