A TATTOO studio in Leigh has made bookings worth more than £5,000 after joining a campaign to raise money for victims of the Manchester Arena bomb attack.

Tattooists all over Greater Manchester are donating cash from the sales of worker bee tattoos to those affected by the atrocity, which saw 22 people killed and dozens more seriously injured.

Worker bees have been a symbol of Manchester for hundreds of years.

Cut Throat Tattoos signed up for the Manchester Tattoo Appeal last Tuesday and is offering worker bee designs for £50.

The shop on Warrington Road, Leigh, was originally intending to only take bookings up to Friday.

But it has now extended the offer to the end of June after being inspired by paramedics and nurses who tended to the injured last Monday night calling in for worker bee tattoos.

Shop owner Mark Cain, 46, of Manchester Road, said: "They have told me how horrific it was.

"They said it was like a warzone and that they would need counselling after what they saw.

"After hearing about their experiences and how hard all the emergency services are working I thought it was only right to increase the number of worker bee tattoos we booked."

Mark will be donating at least £5,300 to the appeal to help the victims' families once all of the tattoos have been paid for.

He said: “I know what it is like to have a sudden death in the family and having to find money from nowhere to fund the costs involved, so I wanted to join the campaign and help the families in some way.

"People who have come into the shop have commented about how supportive the tattoo appeal across Greater Manchester is for the community.

"I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has got their tattoo at the studio and supported the campaign."