Is this what Fifty Shades of Grey heartthrob Christian looks like?

This is the 'first picture' of Fifty Shades of Grey character Christian Grey - created using software usually designed to catch criminals.

[Fiction: How much do we love Fifty Shades...?]

The millionaire protagonist of the saucy best-selling trilogy had previously only existed inside the imagination of the reader.

But university boffins used the same e-fit software employed in police investigations to put a face to the mysterious character at the centre of the best selling novel.

They created the black-and-white image, which shows a man with tousled hair and high cheekbones, based on descriptions of how women imagined him to look.

The handsome composite was the brainchild of University of Central Lancashire's (UCLan) Dr Faye Skelton, who said the man in the image had drawn comparisons with famous actors and sports stars.

She took the descriptions from 12 female readers to create the striking image.

Dr Skelton said: "While we don't want to intrude on anyone's fantasies, based on a small sample of women, this is the image of Christian Grey they have in their heads when reading the novels.

"Personally, I think he's quite handsome, although everyone's interpretation will be different.

"It was just a bit of fun, but it does show the quality of image we can now generate.

"Most of the descriptions drew comparisons with famous film stars, which may help Hollywood moguls when the film remake comes to casting."

One fan, Laura Stokes, 24, from Perry Barr, Birmingham, said: "I think it's better if it's left to women's imaginations rather than a computer - but it still pretty clever.

"It's not the image I have of him in my head, but he's very good looking nonetheless."

Author EL James' first book in the trilogy has sold ten million copies world-wide becoming the fastest-selling novel of all time - outselling Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and even JK Rowling's Harry Potter books.

Last week an academic warned that Britain faces a surge in baby births next year because the raunchy trilogy is driving women into bed more than ever before.

The majority of Fifty Shades of Grey fans believe lead character Christian Grey is a strapping six footer "with very big hands," the composite artists revealed.

Dr Faye Skelton, 33, said: "The feedback I had from women was that Christian Grey had rippling muscles and was tall with very big hands.

"Women did not say about any other parts of his anatomy and these qualities would have been difficult to convey in a facial e-fit.

"The best description of Christian Grey would be someone with Patrick Dempsey's eyes and Brad Pitt's jaw.

"I am part way through the first book and this is certainly how I view him."

Can you guess where the features came from? Here's the breakdown:

Hair - Channing Tatum / Brad Pitt (In 'The Mexican') / Joe Flanigan
Eyes - Patrick Dempsey / Steve McQueen / Johnny Depp (as Jack Sparrow)
Face shape: David Beckham Jaw line: Brad Pitt / David Beckham
Nose: Chris Hemsworth
Lips: Val Kilmer / Ryan Reynolds