GEORGE Jackson rolled up his sleeves and got on the dance floor at his son’s wedding — a scene he could never have imagined a year ago.

The problem was that the 51-year-old grandad was embarrassed by his tattooed arms and hands.

But he was almost tattoo-free for his son’s big day after having the etchings on his arms lasered — he even. posed for official wedding photographs with a renewed confidence.

He entered a competition in The Bolton News for free tattoo removal at Laserase Bolton and was delighted to be the winner. In the 16 months since, he has seen his numerous tattoos reduced to almost nothing — a few more sessions and he will be without a single tattoo.

George, a shift supervisor for a plastics firm, thoroughly enjoyed 25-year-old son Jamie’s wedding to 22-year-old Kirsty at St Paul’s Church, Astley Bridge. “I was embarrassed about my tattoos but not now, I feel so much more confident,” said George, who lives with his wife, 47-year-old Ann, in Halliwell.

Some of the tattoos were professionally inked and others were home-made versions created by George when he was a schoolboy.

His first tattoo was completed when he was just 12-years-old. His handiwork includes a “ring” around one of his fingers — the most painful to remove — names of former girlfriends and Bolton Wanderers’ club initials, BWFC, across his fingers.

He has undergone a treatment each month and admits it is painful. “It is like someone flicking you with an elastic band. But it is worth the pain,” he said. George’s treatment wash carried out at the private laser clinic close to The Royal Bolton Hospital.