HIS name is enough the chill the blood but the last surviving member of the original Dracula family is assured of at least one warm welcome.

Vlad Dracula Prince Kretzulesco is planning to flee his German home - surprisingly called Castle Dracula - and head to Britain for a new life.

Unlike his fictional ancestor, he does not intend to travel in a box filled with soil from his homeland, but fans of Bram Stoker's tale still hope his first port of call will be Whitby.

The North Yorkshire fishing town has become a Mecca for Dracula devotees as the landing place of the Transylvanian count after his voyage to England.

And Jo Collier, who runs the Whitby Dracula Society, said the real Dracula's arrival in the town could help stimulate interest in the legend.

She said: "If he came to Whitby I am sure he would get a good response and it would certainly generate a lot of interest.

"We do some charity work and it would be beneficial to have him with us - we could help him and he could help us."

Harry Collett, chairman of Whitby and District Tourism Association, said: "From a tourism point of view it would be very good publicity.

"The town is very rich in cultural history and this could be financially lucrative if he were to stay in Whitby.

"I'm sure there would be quite a party for him."

The 60-year-old prince said he has decided to leave Germany after receiving death threats, with arsonists trying to set his castle alight on ten occasions.

He was adopted into the family by a direct descendant of the original Romanian count, ensuring the name survived.

But not everyone in Whitby is keen to see him.

Rex Greenwood, who has run ghost walks in the town dressed as Dracula for 40 years, said: "I would not wish to see him here at all.

"It is a story and it is fine if it is fun but there is no truth in it."

l The Dracula Society is running Hallowe'en concerts, drama and exhibitions at the Metropole Hotel in Whitby this weekend, with details from (01947) 821546 or (07950) 135677