A BLACK Country man has used his beloved greyhound's ashes to create a tribute tattoo on his wrist.

Gary Sanders from Pedmore was devastated when his loyal companion Monty died in February, aged 11.

When his prized pet was cremated, Gary, aged 56, realised he couldn't bear to part with his ashes and after scouring the internet for inspiration, he decided to get a tattoo and have them mixed in with the ink.

Dudley News:

"I didn't want to scatter them in a field or his favourite place, I wanted to keep him as close to me as possible," the father-of-two said.

"But I kept the tattoo a secret from my family as I didn't want them to talk me out of it.

"It was my first one and it was a bit of an experience but I liked it so much that I had an identical one on my other wrist a month later."

Dudley News:

The aerospace auditor added: "It has definitely made me feel like I'm still close to Monty. I had him from Monmore Green in Wolverhampton when he was two, he was a non-racer and didn't like to do what other people told him to.

"He was a part of the family - we even took him on holiday - and he idolised me. I've had dogs for most of my life but none of them have been like Monty, he was special."

Dudley News:

Tattooist John Tilt, of Body Art Studios in St John's Road, Stourbridge, said the inking took about half an hour and added that while it was an unusual request, it was not unheard of.

He told the News: "I've been tattooing for about 18 years now and while I have done tattoos with pet's ashes in them before, I can count them on one hand. It's definitely unique."