FOUR city tattoo studios raised over £8,000 for the family of a popular tattooist who died last month, aged 29.

Worcester Tattoo Studio, Circle of Swords and Rings and Needles opened specially on Sunday – while Lock & Key opened on Monday – to ink customers with tattoos in memory of Jack Allender.

Katie Gunston, who co-owns Circle of Swords with Loz Phillips, said a total of 135 tattoos were done as part of the fundraiser.

She said her Trinity Street shop had initially planned to open from 11am until 4pm but had not actually finished tattooing until 9pm.

“Everyone was waiting for so long we couldn’t turn them away,” she said. “Some had been waiting for eight hours.”

Ms Gunston said the tattoo community in Worcester is very close-knit and understands much of the money raised will go towards Mr Allender’s daughter.

“We all came together to do the right thing,” she said. “It was the only thing we could do.

“People always think there’s some beef going on [between the shops]. But it’s completely not like that.”

Artist Kiah O’Rourke has also hand-painted a baseball bat, which has been auctioned off on Instagram to raise further funds – the winning bid is believed to be £100.

Ms Gunston said: “Kiah was a friend of Jack’s and had a shop in Leicester. Jack was supposed to do a guest spot there the week after he died. It was painted for him but obviously never got to that.”

She went on to say that Mr Allender, who owned The Mad House studio, on Pump Street, was a popular figure in a growing tattoo culture in the city.

“Jack liked doing big, bold, traditional pieces. He just really liked thick lines,” she said.

Donation buckets are still being housed in the four studios.

Friend Ryan Porter has also set up a page to raise money for Mr Allender’s family at gofundme.com/tay6q-jackslegacy.

Police have said Mr Allender’s death is not being treated as suspicious.