Looking like Amy Winehouse may not be everybody's cup of tea - but Norwich's first international festival dedicated to body art proved a big hit at the weekend. Hundreds of people packed into St Andrew's Hall for the two-day event where tattoo artists and body art enthusiasts from Norwich and across the country showed off their wares.

Some were even tempted to go under the needle themselves while others marvelled at inked creations and piercings through the most unlikely of body parts. As well as tattoos, the event also offered all manner of body modifications, piercings and other adornments to make you stand out from the crowd.

Among the hundreds of visitors was Emma Hawkins, 20, from Brundall, who has three tattoos on her back and leg. She said: "It's great just to be somewhere people don't stereotype you for having tattoos. It tends to be the older generation who maybe don't like tattoos. But there's nothing of that here because everyone's got tattoos and everyone loves body art.

"I've had tattoos a couple of years and I really like them. It's better to grow old wrinkly and colourful than wrinkly and dull."

She was with Matt Ong,

also 20 and from Brundall,

who at the moment is 'tattoo-free'.

He said: "It's nice to have a look at all the designs and pictures that are out there, and it's like going to an art galley in a way. I might get one in the future."

Zoe Barber and Gary Aucote had travelled 25 miles from Melton Constable to attend the event which featured 70 tattoo artists tattooing live and exhibiting their work.

She said: "I have got several tattoos. It's a way of expressing yourself."

Mr Aucote added that

every tattoo told a story.

"Most tattoos you have for a reason and tell your story," he said.

One of the organisers, Gemma King, 25, who owns Indigo Tattoo Studio, said the enthusiasm for body art and tattoos was especially strong in Norwich.

She said: "I'm really excited by it. We expected it to be quite big as it was the first one, but there's a lot of national people coming and artists from

across the country. If it's popular and people want it, then it could become an annual event."

She had her first tattoo when she was 18 and now has them covering her body.

"My favourite is my Elvis portrait on my leg," she said. "I think body art is taking off in Norwich and our place is fully booked three months in advance."

The weekend also featured a Graffiti Jam where some of

the most well-respected

street artists were invited

to make their mark on canvases, Art Fusion, a

live art experiment, an

auction and a line-up of entertainment.

Ü Are you promoting a huge

art event in Norwich? Ring