A campaign has been launched to raise money for a tattoo artist with an incurable brain tumour.

The friends of Dan Sims, a young father from Sevenoaks who is now unable to do the job he loves, have set up a fund raising appeal.

Mr Sims was left fighting for his life after an operation to remove a 4-5cm tumour and a cyst the size of a tangerine from his brain.

He now faces months of chemo and radiotherapy to control the cancer.

The 35-year-old first realised something was seriously wrong when he lost his eye-sight while driving in May, 2017.

Managing to get himself safely to the side of a busy road, Mr Sims’ vision returned and he took himself to hospital where the tumour was discovered.

He was then rushed to Kings College Hospital to have it removed.

Devastatingly, Mr Sims required a further three operations to remove portions of his skull and brain after a blood clot formed.

The exercise fanatic, who holds the record for most bench presses at his local gym, spent three more days in an induced coma to recover and was left with stroke-like symptoms from the surgery.

He was once again admitted to hospital with a serious infection from a plate replacing a section of his skull which has now been removed until he finishes radiotherapy.

Jack Akehurst, 31, Mr Sims’ friend and colleague who has been taking the lead setting up the fundraiser, said: "It’s been very touch and go and up and down but he’s doing amazing really.

"We just can’t really comprehend what he’s going through."

Jack set up a JustGiving page and organised a music event at the Tunbridge Wells Forum on Friday, November 24.

He said: "Raising funds is important but the main purpose is to get the community behind him because it must be a very lonely time for him.

Seven tattoo parlours, including Mr Sims’ Life Family Tattoo in Sevenoaks, are donating proceeds from tattoos on Sunday, November 26 while a neighbouring hair dresser, Number Six Pour Homme, does the same with haircuts.

Donations to help support Mr Sims can be given through the JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lifefamilytattoo