I asked people in Birmingham if they regretted getting a tattoo as city unveiled as most tattooed in England

The popularity of tattoos has been steadily increasing over recent years with one study showing that Birmingham is in fact the most tattooed city in England.

According to research by Carole Nash, 48% of respondents had more than six tattoos in Birmingham - more than anywhere else. However more tattoos can lead to more regrets for the people who get them.

A survey conducted by the University of Portsmouth revealed 18% of respondents over 18 regretted their body art in later life, with 67% feeling the need to conceal them - so I hit the streets of Birmingham to find out what tattoos people regret the most.

While many clearly hold some regrets, Brummies clearly love tattoos enough to keep getting them - so I also asked what tattoos hold the most meaning to them.

Katie said: “Oh, the one that I kind of regret - well not regret, kind of changed my mind on - when I was 18 - my first tattoo. I didn’t know what I wanted.

“So I just went into a tattoo shop and just went, that’ll do! I just picked that one and I had that done. Then after probably about 10 years it started to fade, it was a bit discoloured, so I thought let’s spruce it up. So I had it covered for something else. And there is another one, but we won’t go into that!”

Em said: “Yeah, I actually got one on my ankle. It was when I went on holiday a few years ago. And it was of this person’s name. Absolutely regret it. It’s horrible. Yeah. So I’m planning on getting that either removed or covered very soon, because it was awful. And it was, like, my first tattoo as well.”

James said: “One on my arm here is my portrait of my Nan and my Granddad. And yeah, they’re obviously no longer with me.”

Jay said: “I’ve got two that are meaningful. I’ve got my favourite bands - I’ve got their logo tattooed, and I’ve also got your birth flower tattooed. But my other one is just a bee. And it was just because I like them.”

And while the city is heavily tattooed compared to others, and people get their tattoos for plenty of meaningful reasons, as well as through many moments of madness, more than half of us are still not quite ready to jump on the trend ourselves.

Beanie said: “I don’t have any. I don’t have any tattoos that I regret. I don’t have any tattoos at all! I think I would be very cautious about getting a tattoo. And if I was going to get one I would get one that definitely signifies a lot to me. But I know that other people just do it to decorate their bodies and I love that. I just don’t have the confidence myself!”