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British historian

claims to have

found the

Holy Grail

LONDON: A British amateur historian claims to have found the Holy Grail, the vessel believed by the medieval world to have been used to collect the blood of Jesus Christ, the Independent newspaper reported on Friday.

Graham Phillips, a historical researcher, tracked the Grail down to a country house in central England after seven years of investigations, the paper said.

The Holy Grail was, according to medieval legend, the cup used by the man who buried Jesus - Joseph of Arimathea - to collect Chirst's blood, and later brought to Britain by the Romans, where it was sought by the Knights of the Round Table.

Phillips traced the story of the Grail through the centuries until he discovered the present descendant of local kings who had been in possession of what he believes to be the Grail - a small onyx cup, according to the independent.

Victoria's Palmer, 24, a graphic designer from the central English town Rugby, had no idea of the significance of the family heirloom which is now in a bank vault, the paper said.-APP