Bo Smith of Misfitattoo said “dodgy” operators were prevalent in the area, bringing with them substandard art work and a heightened risk of clients contracting hepatitis B, C and HIV.

“I’m being asked to touch up that much crap at the moment from backyarders it’s not funny,” Mr Smith said.

“But I just flatly say no – if people are willing to get something permanent done by a dodgy operator then they deserve to live with it.

“I’ve seen some absolute atrocities lately because these days anyone who thinks they can draw can go on eBay and buy a kit and start tattooing.

“There was a time when tattoo suppliers wouldn’t sell you equipment until you’d shown them your business card, letterhead and council certificate.

“It’s just out of control now and there are real health and quality of work risks.”

He said the explosion in popularity of tattoos had seen business boom, forcing him to bring in another tattooist to keep up with demand.

But the craze had also brought with it a number of ethical issues, especially relating to teenagers.

“There is a lot of underage tattooing happening here and I’m having parents coming to me because their 15-year-old child has gone and got one and they want it fixed up,” Mr Smith said.

“I even had a mother come in recently willing to give permission to her 14-year-old child to get a tattoo.”

He said tattoos were now in the mainstream and no longer seen as a “hardcore” fashion accessory.

“I’ve tattooed an 80-year-old and a 70-year-old lately and there’s a a far more open acceptance of tattoos now,” he said.

“Everywhere you look, music stars, movie stars and sportpeople are sporting them.

“They even say now you can’t be an NRL footballer unless you have a sleeve.

“But tattoos are best when there’s a meaning, a theme; they’re not just there to look cool anymore.”