More than 25 people are having tattoos in honour of a teenager who died.

A fledgling tattoo business in Rochester has received 25 bookings in just a few days following the death of 19-year-old Jamie Carr.

The idea started after a friend of the ex-Thomas Aveling School pupil got a tattoo in his memory and then more customers arrived wanting similar tattoos.

After hearing about Jamie’s death, tattooist Aaron Sutton decided to create a fundraiser in honour of the teenager.

Offering small tattoos for £10 and larger ones for £20, he came up with a variety of designs and will be donating a portion of the proceeds to pay for the funeral.

Aaron, whose tattoo parlour New Beginnings Tattoo Studio has only just opened at his home in Rainham, said he was honoured to be a part of something so special.

He said: “I didn’t even know Jamie but he was obviously a very special person.

“I thought it would only be a few people wanting them. I didn’t realise what a loved character he was.”

He and his wife Christina have created some designs using Jamie’s initials which people can choose from but he has had a few individual requests including one scribing the last text message a friend ever received from the youngster.

“It’s very emotional,” Aaron said. “I have five kids and I can’t imagine what it would be like to bury one of them.”

Jamie’s mum Katie Aldridge, who lives in John Street, Rochester, loved the idea and is planning to design a tattoo to remember her son.

She said: “The hospital gave me his handprints so that might be an idea.”

Katie paid tribute to her “best friend and son” who was found unconscious in a neighbour’s flat on Sunday, February 18.

Jamie, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child, died the following day in Medway Maritime Hospital from hypoxic brain injury and diabetic ketoacidosis.

Katie described her special bond with her son, recalling the last gift he gave her was concert tickets, paid with from his first pay cheque.

She said: “It was just me, him and his sister.

“We’d always go out together,” she said. “He wasn’t just my son, he was my best friend.”

Katie, who works in the catering department at King’s School in Rochester, got Jamie a cleaning job at the school just before Christmas.

“He was getting his life together and earning his own money,” she said.

Jamie lost his best friend Harrison two years ago and Katie said he had struggled to move on with his life.

In honour of his friend, Jamie had a tattoo with his name and date of birth which ignited his love of tattoos.

“He also had one of a scorpion on his hand,” she said. “And he was planning to get others.”

Katie said she has been given momentoes from Medway hospital to remember Jamie including a braided bracelet for each member of the family which was also placed around Jamie’s wrist. There was also twin teddy bears, one for Jamie and one for his sister Devon.

Devon, nine, was particularly close to her brother, Katie said.

“They argued like all siblings but she idolised him. They were very close.”

Katie said Jamie, who attended The Gordon’s Children’s Academy in Rochester, loved watching Liverpool football club and going to raves with his friends, of whom he had many.

Katie said: “He was quiet but he was also the life and soul of the party.

“He loved the ladies and would never cut his curly hair as he said the ladies loved it.

“His friends have said he would always make them laugh with his one-liners that would come out of nowhere.”

Jay Tattoo Day is taking place until March 2.