A BOLTON man has paid homage to his hometown by getting a tattoo of the town hall.

Gary Taylor, aged 36, moved out of Bolton three years ago and decided to get the inking as a memory.

The father-of-three was inked with the iconic building on his hand, with his time of birth on the clock face and date of birth on his knuckles.

Mr Taylor, who lived in Empress Street but now lives in Ashton-under-Lyne said: “I just love Bolton.

“It broke my heart leaving it.

"But I had met my now partner Sarah and we were expecting our first baby so I moved to live with her.

“I’m Bolton born and bred and all my family still live there.

“I just wanted something to remember it by and the town hall is a big landmark for Bolton.

“Where I used to live the first thing I could see when I looked out my window was the town hall and the clock, so it seemed fitting.”

The tattoo-mad dad, who has 26 inkings in total, paid £200 for the tattoo and had it done at House of Tattoos in Derby Street.

He also has the Bolton Coat of Arms inscription on his collar bone and his middle name is Byrom, after an ex Bolton Wanderers player— the team he supports.

He added: “I love tattoos. People ask me was it painful but all tattoos are painful.

“But I am running out of skin to have any more now.

“I got the inspiration for it from a similar one of Big Ben that I have seen done, so I just swapped it for Bolton Town Hall.

“It has always caught people's eye since I had it done and they ask me about it.

“I went on holiday recently and got asked quite a few questions.

“I did have to ask my boss before having it done but he was fine with it.

“It is one of my favourite tattoos.”

Do you have a Bolton-inspired tattoo? Send your photos to melanie.disley@nqnw.co.uk