East Anglia’s Black Shuck hellhound to feature on Royal Mail stamps

He explained the legend began in Bungay on 4 August 1577 when Black Shuck, sometimes known as the Black Dog of Bungay, burst into St Mary’s Church and killed some of the congregation.

It then ran off to another nearby church at Blythburgh and carried out similar acts.

“It was recorded soon after it happened, written down by Abraham Fleming, a vicar,” Mr Mayhew continued.

“It’s [still] seen throughout the region, particularly in Bungay – you’ll see little images in the town of black dogs everywhere.”

Black Shuck was said to have terrorised other parts of the region too including Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

“I think Arthur Conan Doyle stayed somewhere in north Norfolk, heard the legend, and was probably inspired by it for his Hound of the Baskerville book,” Mr Mayhew continued.

“So there are other connections to this legend.”

The stamps are available to pre-order and will go on general sale from 27 March.

“I’ll be buying lots of the stamps, I might paint my walls with them,” Mr Mayhew joked.