Tattoo parlours in Gravesend and Dartford are dragging their feet over signing up to a new hygiene rating scheme.

Parlours in the area are being asked to sign up to the initiative, which would see them inspected annually and given a rating to display similar to the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

Gravesham council sent out letters in June encouraging all eligible businesses to apply for the Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme in the hopes of the scheme going live at the start of July.

But so far only two parlours have enquired about joining the scheme, according to Graham Cole, head of communications for Gravesham council.

Ken Sales, 58, owner of the Screaming Skulls Tattoo & Body Piercing Studio in Windmill Street says local parlours are aware of the scheme but some need time to make changes to ensure they comply.

He said: "We’re in favour of it. We’re just having some work done at the moment to make sure we can comply with the standard.

"I think everyone’s got a bit of work to do to make sure they comply. But once we’ve got that done we’ll be applying. It’s a good scheme."

The scheme is set to have county-wide standards but Graham Hodgson, 49, owner of Master Tattooers of Gravesend, says the scheme needs to be run nationwide to ensure standards are applied consistently.

He said: "It’s a good scheme but I think it’s going to be very difficult for different boroughs to enforce it consistently."

Cole says the council will be getting in touch with any parlours yet to respond in the near future and believes take up will increase.

He said: "These things take time.

"Once one or two have signed up the rest will see what they are missing out on and quickly follow suit."