A boom in tattoo lovers requesting designs in remembrance of a loved one has inspired a tattoo shop in March to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Grey Area Custom Tattoo, on High Street, has raised £2,400 for local charity, Mind, by offering a selection of pre-drawn designs as well as the semi colon tattoo which has become synonymous with suicide prevention campaigns all over the world.

The shop offered the designs to customers last weekend and saw over 100 ink lovers get a new tattoo and 29 people choose a piercing.

Stacey O’Hara, shop manager, said: “Mental health is such an important issue and one which we are really keen to raise awareness of. Suicide is sadly on the increase and therefore it is so important to encourage people to talk openly about the subject and to encourage people who are feeling depressed to get the help they need.”

“We were hoping we might reach £2,000 this year but to make £2,400 exceeded all of our expectations. I am so proud of the whole team and our local community for coming together and making the day an ultimate success”.

Sarah Hughes CEO for Mind in Cambridgeshire said: “We are overwhelmed and so grateful with how much Grey Area Custom Tattoo has raised for our organisation. £2,400 is a fantastic achievement.

“With one in four of us in any one year experiencing a mental health problem, we are seeing the need for our services increase every year. The money raised will be used to help local people who are recovering from mental health problems.

“A massive thank you to Stacey and all the team at Grey Area and the local community of March who supported the event.”