WHEN Anthony Thomas' friends heard the 20-year-old had died in a car crash, they knew he would never be forgotten.

The young Blaenavon man, known as Tony or Tunus, died on November 4, driving home with friends from a party.

On the brink of becoming a fire fighter, he was hugely popular and a talented artist.

Now 14 of his friends and family have had his nickname Tunus tattooed on themselves as a permanent reminder of him, and two more are planning to join them.

Tony's sister Stacey, 18, and brother Scott, 16, have been joined by Simon Lewis, Duan Price, Ronnie Weaver, Tammy Weaver, Ben Belli, Lee Williams, Luke Doran, Paul Probert, Kimberly Prole, Paul Little, Ben Phillips and Paul Harris, all from Blaenavon.

His friends have had a special logo tattooed on their arms or backs, which Tony designed himself when he was alive.

Stacey had a different design incorporating "Tony" into it, because, she said, she did not call him Tunus.

She said: "It was everyone's idea, we wanted to do something to remember him by and this was permanent. It means he'll never be forgotten."

Her boyfriend and Tony's friend Lee Williams said: "We couldn't forget him if we tried, but this is the ultimate tribute.

"We wanted to do it out of respect to him. The tattooist, Paul at Red Dragon in town, did them all and said he had never seen anything like it."

Ben Belli said: "We did it out of pride as well, because we were proud to know him."

Paul Harris said: "It's a symbol of my respect and to show my honour for my closest friend. He will never be beaten."

The group are also planning to do up Tony's old Escort Van, chipping in money to get it a new engine and paint job.

Tony left his mum Deb, dad Paul, sister Stacy and brothers Scott and Alan, nine.

He was killed in a car accident on the Llanover Road over the Blorenge Mountain. He was due to take his final fitness test before becoming a fire-fighter the day after the crash.