SWALLOW and anchor tattoos are usually associated with sailors of yesterday.

But the co-owner of a tattoo studio says they appear to be re-emerging as a number of body arts fans from Bolton and beyond ask for the inkings.

Paul McCarthy, from Vida Loca Tattoo, Bridge Street, and his business partner Daniel Watson are looking forward to showcasing their skills at this month's Tattoo Tea Party, which will have a nautical theme.

Paul, whose favourite type of tattoo is a Mexican style known as Chicano, said: "There's a small niche of the old-style tattoos like anchors and swallows."

Celebrating everything that is wonderful about the UK and Ireland's tattoo scene, the convention will be at EventCity, Manchester, from Saturday, February 28 to Sunday, March 1.

Paul, who had his first tattoo at the age of 40, said: "We have got seven artists there actually tattooing.

"We are bringing one of the artists over from Amsterdam, he's Portuguese but lives there.

"He's a good mate of ours, we bring him over every year.

"It's open to the general public, there's all sorts of stuff going on, live bands, it's like a little world of its own.

"There's something for everyone."

While Daniel is one of the shop's tattoo artists, Paul concentrates on laser removal.

He said: "The trends change.

"There used to be a lot of tribal tattoos and I'm probably spending 90% of the day lasering them."

Popular tattoos at the moment include religious-style ones, done in the style of black and grey realism, with designs including the Virgin Mary and Jesus.

There will be more than 350 exhibitors at the event and other Bolton studios taking part include Bolton Tat Shop in Newport Street, Inkredibles, Chorley Old Road, and Raw Tattoo, Bolton Road, Kearsley, run by Arron Raw.

Arron, a tattooist for about seven years, said: "I only do one specific genre — black and grey realism — that's my style.

"I'm fully booked until September and have people coming from all over the country."

A Tattoo Tea Party spokesman said: "Alongside artists will be a wide range of traders including vintage, jewellery, clothing, confectionery, pop-up beauty parlour and a men’s barbers, face painting, sideshows, art gallery, tarot readings, pyrotechnic shows and a big sprinkling of quirkiness."

For tickets, visit tatttoteaparty.com.