AN ORFORD tattoo artist has scooped a top award after opening a new town centre studio.

Danny Warburton has claimed the Industry Input Award, the top prize on offer at the recent Ink-A-Gogo International Tattoo Show.

The 34-year-old , who has been a tattooist for six years, beat around 400 other artists to claim the prestigious award at the international tattoo convention, which was held in Telford.

He said: "It was a bit like a This is Your Life type of thing.

"They did this big long speech and at the end of it they said my name.

"I was sulking because I wanted to win Best Portrait and I hadn't won it, so I wasn't really listening.

"They said I was putting out tattoos on a daily basis in the shop that are of an award-winning standard.

"It wasn't what I thought I was going to win but I was pleased.

Danny, the grandson of former Mayor of Warrington George Syers, has also opened a new studio, Danny's Tattoo, in the Courtyard off Horsemarket Street having previously owned Inkfinity in Latchford.

He added: "It's been very busy - we were busy at the last shop but it was upstairs down a back street.

"Now we're in the heart of the town centre and the door just doesn't stop all day - people are coming in on after the other."

"Everything just seems to be happening for me now and my hard work is paying off."

Danny has also raised £1,000 for charity by cycling 53 miles to Southport on Sunday, May 14.

The total raised will be donated to Queenscourt Hospice, where Danny's auntie Janet Syers spent her last days.

He added: "It wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be - I'd not ridden a bike for along time.

"My auntie died of cancer in February and she was only young, so I decided to ride to the hospice that she died in in Southport.

"It took me eight hours and 15 minutes to get there but I did it - I wasn't going to quit."