A TATTOO studio that says it can help breast cancer patients recover their body confidence after surgery has opened on the Wichelstowe development.

Ruby Lou's opened three weeks ago to residents in East Wichel, part of the 4,000-home development half-way through completion.

It's owner, who moved her studio from west Swindon after 11 years, say there's no shortage of demand.

Tarren Malham, known as Taz to her customers, who has a degree in children's book illustration, told the Adver:

"We all have a style, I love doing both, but I switched from paper to skin.

"I much prefer tattooing because it can change someone's life.

"We have lots of nipple tattoos where cancer patients are in remission and we can help them feel whole again.

"It's amazing when we can send the customer away feeling so much better about themselves.

"You become their therapists, people really open to you.

"I feel very lucky being able to do what I do."

The studio has become so busy it's already booked up until June after moving into the premises at the start of February.

The move to Wichelstowe, in part prompted by a 46 per cent increase in rent, has meant the studio could double in size and can look at expanding to take on more staff.

"We are having to actually turn away the work at the moment," she added, "which obviously isn't ideal.

"We now have space to take on more artists and expand," she added.

"It's such a lovely area and we have met some really nice residents already.

"There was some nasty things being said about us before on Facebook but we would like to prove them wrong, everyone else has been lovely."

The studio, on 16 Trevello Road, sits near the recently opened Co-op store and is opposite the area's first dentist, Wichelstowe Dental Care, which opened in January.

The Canalside part of the Wichelstowe development, a joint-venture between Barratt Homes and Swindon Borough Council, will start in the spring before work on West Wichel will begin, adding 4,000 homes when completed.