Wild Dogs Kill British Woman in Bulgaria, Reports Claim

The Foreign Office is investigating reports of a British woman being mauled to death by a pack of wild dogs in Bulgaria.

The 56-year-old victim was walking her own dog when she was attacked near the village of Nedyalsko in the south-east of the country yesterday, reports said.

Local children are believed to have tried to help her but were also attacked by the animals.

"We are aware of the media reports and are seeking clarification from the Bulgarian authorities," a Foreign Office spokesman said.

It was reported that a shepherd managed to drive the dogs away but the victim died from loss of blood before an ambulance arrived.

It was that that the victim was attacked by up to eight dogs and that her own pet, believed to be a German shepherd, ran away.

Todor Zeliazov, the mayor of Nedyalsko, said that the woman had lived in the village with her husband for the past two years. He said her husband, who is also thought to be British, was disabled, the Times reported.

Packs of wild dogs are a common hazard in the country, with many beaches on the Black Sea out of bounds because of the animals.

In the capital, Sofia, there are thought to be at least 35,000 street dogs.

Bulgaria, which joined the European Union at the beginning of the year, has become a popular place for Britons to buy second homes. Substantial properties can be bought for as little as £25,000 in mountain or seaside locations.