'Massive response' to city tattoo shop's bee offer

Since last week, Studio 81 in Friargate has completed around 25 bee tattoos, with all proceeds - £1,400 so far - going to the Manchester Emergency Fund.

Shop owner Steve Heery said: “I’m from Manchester myself and when I came in after hearing about the bomb I was shocked, and so were my staff.

“I’ve seen a lot of tattoo shops in Manchester offering the bee tattoo, but none in Preston.

“We thought why don’t we do it and try and spread it wider than Manchester? There have been victims and a lot of people affected from the whole of the North West area.”

Steve said he has has a “massive response” to the bee offer, with artists working hard to fit people in around other bookings.

Each tattoo has been to the same design - that of the worker bee that is used to symbolise Manchester’s hard-working past, during the Industrial Revolution.

Steve added: “Everyone in Preston has been so charitable and we’ve seen lots of people from all walks of life coming into the shop wanting the bee. It’s good because tattooing has often been frowned upon by some circles.

“We’ve had mothers, daughters, fathers and son’s coming in.

“I think it’s shocked everyone - it could have been any one of us there that night.”