Southampton mother Katy Chase has been a horror fan for as long as she can remember.

Her passion for horror films began with Freddy Krueger.

She became such a fan that for her husband, artist Gary Chase, tattooed a thigh sized portrait of the character from the horror series, Nightmare on Elm Street.

She said: "The main aspect that makes him my favourite is that he only exists in your dreams, and people have to sleep so he's not someone you can easily escape. That is a scary character - he has been very well created by Wes Craven.

Two years ago, for their first year wedding anniversary Gary took Katy to meet the actor who plays Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund at a Comic Con event in London.

"I love my Freddy tattoo and I'm absolutely honoured to have been able to show it to Robert Englund himself, and he loved it. He said 'Wow, we need to get this in the photo,' which is why is was pointing at it with his glove in the photo. His opinion is the most important to me," said the 32-year-old catering assistant.

"People who share a love of horror appreciate the tattoo, at the London Film and Comic Con I had so much positive feedback about it, as well as when I have attended tattoo conventions."

"When people say things like, you will regret it when you are older, it's just their opinion.

"Lots of people have regrets in their life and people make choices they later regret, regarding tattoos or not. I can see me looking back at my tattoos and remembering my youth and smiling."

Southampton Tattoo festival is the Ageas Bowl this Saturday and Sunday.