AN angry mother is warning other parents to beware of letting their children have tattoos done while on holiday abroad.

Wendy Sexton, from Lindale Drive, Clock Face, issued the alert after her seven-year-old son Lee suffered an extreme reaction to a tattoo which he had done on a Greek island.

The family were on holiday in Zante when Lee had a skull and crossbones tattooed on to his arm at a roadside stall. They were led to believe that the artist was using a henna formula, but when Lee had a septic reaction to the tattoo, they discovered that a substance called pappa, often found in hair dyes, had been used instead.

Lee developed blisters on his arm a few days after returning home and later had to be admitted to Whiston Hospital.

Wendy, said: "Lee's eyes were swollen, he had a temperature and it looked as though his arm had been burnt. Doctors at Whiston Hospital said they hadn't seen anything like it".

Although Lee has now recovered from the immediate reactions to the tattoo, he will remain scarred for life. His tattoo has faded, but it can still be detected under certain light and he has also been warned not to expose himself to direct sunlight and not to use certain types of sunscreen or hair dye.

A number of similar cases have been reported nationwide and Wendy wants to warn other parents in the St Helens area not to let their children have tattoos done when they are abroad.

"A lot of children when they go on holiday want to get these tattoos, but parents should make sure they know what is in the tattoo before they let their children get one".