A FORCES veteran went under the needle to receive his first tattoo for charity.

Mark Ford, from York, decided over a pint of beer with his friend and tattoo artist Martin Lowther to get himself inked.

The pair served together in the third Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and wanted to thank Help for Heroes for its support.

Mark said: “We agreed that, as Help for Heroes is close to both our hearts, we would use it to raise funds at the same time.”

Now a prison officer, he decided to get a symbol representing the charity on his back and added the dates of his charity cycle rides from Land’s End to John O’Groats .

The 58-year-old said: “The stretcher bearer is a poignant symbol, representing the support that is there for our wounded after medical discharge, and it has always stuck with me ever since I first saw it.

“Martin is really good at his job. I trusted him with my life when we served together so I am sure I can trust him with a needle.”

Martin, who runs Rosie’s Ink Pot tattoo studio in Thornley with his partner, Rachel, made the tattoo using an ancient bamboo technique traditionally used by monks to create mantras and prayers of protection in their designs.

Martin was medically discharged from the forces after developing a muscle weakening disease. He later started to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and was supported by Help For Heroes, which helped him set up his business.

He from Wallsend, in North Tyneside, learnt the art of bamboo tattooing on a trip to Thailand in 2004.

After giving disks containing hundreds of tattoo designs to a former Buddhist monk who had lost everything in the Tsunami, the monk offered to teach him the art of bamboo tattooing.

The technique involves a fine needle attached to the end of a thin piece of bamboo which is dipped into ink and gently tapped into the skin.

Martin said: “Those who have tried it rarely go back to the machine method. It’s less painful and causes less trauma to the skin, therefore it heals more quickly – for some it’s a spiritual experience.”

To support Help for Heroes sponsor Mark at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-ford21