A tattoo studio is doing its bit to help animals affected by the devastating bushfires which have torn through Australia in recent months.

VIP Tattoo Studio in Maidstone offered a selection of themed designs for £50 each, with all earnings being donated to wildlife rescue organisation, WIRES.

The monochrome tattoo designs, drawn up by in-house artist Jess Confait, include a kangaroo, koala and outline of Australia.

At the end of the campaign, VIP had raised £1,900 with Jess tattooing a total of 38 designs.

Manger of the Rose Yard parlour, Stacy Thompson, said: "My heart was breaking for the wildlife and so we launched the appeal with our artist Jess, who is tattooing a selection of themed designs this week and next.

"We have decided to give to a wildlife charity rather than to people as millions of animals have already lost their lives in the fires and some even face extinction, so the rescue and rehabilitation of the wildlife that has survived is terribly important."

Two years ago, VIP launched a similar appeal, raising money for the families of those killed or injured in the Manchester terror attack.

The money will be donated to WIRES, which will use the funds to help rescue animals from the flames and to care for and rehabilitate them afterwards.

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