Fake ‘pickled dragon’ that fooled the world now on display at museum

By Izzy Hawksworth via SWNS

A hoax "pickled dragon" which fooled the world's press has gone on display at a museum.

The fake dragon hit the headlines in 2004 when Allistair Mitchell told newspapers that his friend David Hart had found the specimen in his garage in Oxfordshire.

He said the fetus, which was complete with wings, talons and a tail, was created by German scientists in the 1890s in the hope of fooling their British counterparts.

But Allistair actually created the stunt to help sell a fantasy novel called Unearthly History, which he had written about dragons.

He paid £6,000 to have the one-foot-tall dragon created in latex by prop makers who worked on the TV show "Walking with Dinosaurs".

But after remaining at the author's home for over 20 years, it has now gone on display at The Story Museum in Oxford as part of their "Here Be Dragons" exhibition.

A museum spokesperson said: "The pickled dragon was lost to public view, remaining at Mitchell’s home for over 20 years.

"Thanks to the efforts of the creative team behind Here Be Dragons, the dragon has now been tracked down and returned to the spotlight for a new generation of admirers to enjoy."