'I had my city tattooed on me to express who I am'

Gareth Ashton has a number of tattoos on his arm that show off his pride in Hull

A Hull man is so proud of his city's landmarks that he has them tattooed on one of his arms.

Gareth Ashton, 42, got his first Hull-dedicated tattoo – a tiger representing the city's football club – in 2017, the year Hull was crowned the UK City of Culture.

Among the ink covering Mr Ashton's left arm is a Larkin toad, ships in the sea, and chip spice – a culinary favourite which originated in Hull in the 1970s.

"I think the stigma is changing now and [tattoos] are more acceptable than they were years ago. It's just an expression of who we are," he said.

Mr Ashton also has a tattoo of Hull's BHS monument, which depicts three trawlers, commemorating the city's fishing fleet.

"It's just one of the big landmarks that stands out. It almost just feels a bit like home because it's there and you see it all the time," he said.

The toad is dedicated to Philip Larkin, whose poems include Toads and Toads Revisited

Also inked on his arm is a drawing of Jean Bishop, the city's beloved "Bee Lady".

Ms Bishop was a dedicated fundraiser for Age UK Hull and East Yorkshire who raised more than £125,000 for local charities over 30 years.

Mr Ashton – who said "there is always room to add more" art to his arm – added: "If we can all just be a bit more like Jean, I think the world will be a better place."

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