Romanian politicians have launched a battle to seize Bran Castle, known as Dracula castle, from its aristocrat owner only a year after he was recognised as the rightful heir to the Transylvanian bastion.

The 14th century castle that was home to Bram Stoker's fictional count was returned to Archduke Dominic of Austria, Prince of Tuscany, in 2006 after it was held for 50 years by Romania's communist regime.

But now a group of Romanian politicians are claiming the handover was illegal due to procedural errors.