Wrong Direction? Boy band One Direction slammed for encouraging fans to get tattoos

One Direction have removed a social media request for fans to submit photos and footage of their tattoos after suggestions they were encouraging their young fans to have body art. (PA)

Boy band One Direction have removed a social media request for fans to submit photos and footage of their tattoos after suggestions they were encouraging their young fans to have body art.

Yesterday the band put a message on Twitter urging fans to show them their tattoos online.

However as many of the group's fans are under 18 - the legal age in the UK to have a tattoo - it was feared some might have body art done to win the acclaim of their heroes.

However, the controversial tweet was removed today.

The band's spokesman Simon Jones told Mail Online: "This tweet was posted in error and has now been removed.

"One Direction do not want to encourage any of their fans to get 1D tattoos."

The group are well-known for their tattoo collection - with singer Harry Styles recently debuting a new one of a butterfly on his stomach.

The band's original tweet urged fans to show their tattoos and possibly get into their 3D movie.

It said: "Have a real £1D tattoo? Show us! Submit a 90 sec YouTube video to 1d3dfangmail.com and show us why you should be in the 1D3Dmovie."

Tonight the band tweeted a different suggestion: "Who has the biggest 1D Collection? Submit a 90sec YouTube video to 1d3dfangmail.com - show us why you should be in the 1D3Dmovie!"

PA