One Direction pull tattoo request

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.

On Saturday the boy 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.

The controversial tweet was removed on Sunday.

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 1d3dfan@gmail.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 1d3dfan@gmail.com - show us why you should be in the @1D3Dmovie!"