It's really got under my skin!

STEVE Harper used to think tattoos were for bikers and merchant seamen - but now he can't stop getting them for himself!

The 37-year-old distribution shift manager, of Brindley Avenue, Latchford, has spent an amazing £2,500 on covering his arms and back with colourful images.

Each month he visits Saz's Tattoo Artist on Marsh House Lane and has recently had his back gradually covered with an extraordinary jungle scene.

Steve first got into tattooing around 15 years ago when he got his first tattoo while on holiday with his brother.

He said: "At the time I was adamant I only wanted the one but the tattooist said at the time: 'You will want more and it will become an addiction'. I was adamant that would not be the case."

But Steve went on to get more and more tattoos, even sporting the names of two ex-girlfriends which later had to be covered up!

He now has the name of his wife and children tattooed on him and is hoping to have a portrait of his children on his thigh.

He said: "The most painful tattoo was when I had one over my kidney area on my back. It does hurt but it's not a pain which would put you off going again."

Steve said he doesn't get too much prejudice against him because of the tattoos, which provoke different reactions from different people.

He said: "Because of the quality of today's tattoos they tend to make people interested rather than stereotyping you, although I still do get that reaction."