Evolution fuels surge in gingers

THE world is going ginger as evolution increases the number of redheads, boffins say.

- BY JERRY LAWTON

Until now many scientists believed humans had made little evolutionary progress over the past 10,000 years.

But new DNA analysis of 15,836 ancient human remains by researchers at Harvard University in the US has suggested people are not only evolving at pace but turning into ginger nuts.

The study said: "Perhaps having red hair was beneficial 4,000 years ago, or perhaps it came along for the ride with a more important trait.