'Vampire skeleton' found in Bulgaria

A 700-year-old skeleton bearing signs of being treated for vampirism has been discovered in a graveyard in the Bulgarian town of Sozopol.

The skeleton has an iron stake through the heart, and the teeth have been pulled out.

Superstitions concerning vampirism have been present in Bulgarian culture since time immemorial, and are still prevalent in many rural areas.

The skeleton has already gone on display in Sofia's natural history museum.

Meanwhile, the town of Sozopol is looking towards the find as a potential tourist attraction.

Authorities have already floated the idea of twinning Sozopol with the Romanian town of Sighisoara, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, one of the inspirations for Bram Stoker's novel Dracula.

Dishes such as vampire steak have already found their way onto the menus of restaurants in the Black Sea town.

It is not the first time that vampires have been discovered in Bulgaria. In 2004, six skeletons bearing signs of being treated for vampirism were found near the village of Debelt, near Sozopol.