A Belgian girl who claimed 56 stars were tattooed on her face while she slept has admitted she lied and that she willingly asked for the striking design.

Kimberley Vlaeminck said she "initially adored" the tattoos, but when her father reacted furiously she had decided to lie about it and blame the tattooist, London's said.

Kimberley Vlaeminck, 18, claims she was sleeping when Rouslan Toumaniantz tattooed 56 stars on her face.

Ms Vlaeminck, 18, made international headlines last week after she said she fell asleep after asking the tattooist for just three small stars, only to wake and find her face covered.

She said the Flemish-speaking tattooist had not been able to understand her French and English instructions, and vowed to sue him for the money to have the tattoos surgically removed.