10 stories that could be April Fools pranks but aren't

April Fools Day is a time when mischievous fictional news stories suddenly pop up in newspapers and other media. But there are some bizarre ones which, upon investigation, turn out to be true, or seriously intended at least.

Here is a round-up of some of the day's seemingly hoax reports which were actually genuine.

1. The England football team are likely to have their preparations for Euro 2012 severely disrupted by a traditional bugler yards from the team hotel in Krakow. The Hejnal Mariacki bugle call, which lasts 30 seconds and rings out every hour, commemorates the Mongol invasion of 1241.

More details: (Daily Star Sunday)

2. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has given the go-ahead for guns that turn victims into "zombies" by targeting their central nervous system.

More details (Mail on Sunday)

3. A 20-year-old "superhero" who calls himself the Knight Warrior, but was born Roger Hayhurst, is hoping to be the first elected mayor of Salford. He promises to tackle crime.

More details (The Sun on Sunday)

4. Prime Minister David Cameron has contributed a recipe for spicy sausage pasta for the Eton Cookbook, which is to raise money for underprivileged and sick children. Westminster insiders say this is the ninth time he has contributed the same recipe to a charity cookbook.

More details (Sunday Times - subscription only)

5. Children will be made to read fake words like "terg", "fape" and "ulf" in an effort to gauge their reading levels. The bogus words will be mixed with real words in tests to be taken soon.

More details (Mail on Sunday)

6. Scientists at Oxford University are applying for government approval to put the first driverless car on British roads. The modified BAE Wildcat jeep will use cameras and lasers to calculate its location.

More details (Financial Times - subscription only)

7. The mystery of "beer goggles" - the phenomenon by which people find members of the opposite sex more attractive after drinking alcohol - has been solved. Scientists at Roehampton University found the ability to judge whether faces were symmetrical - a key measure of attractiveness - is severely impaired by alcohol.

More details (The Independent)

8. A hiker who was about to be mauled to death by a mountain lion was saved by a bear. Experts are yet to confirm the report from a shaken Bob Biggs.

More details (Daily Star on Sunday)

9. A traditional Palm Sunday donkey parade was cancelled because of health and safety fears. Eastleigh Borough Council in Hampshire received objections from police about traffic management, signage, road safety, risk assessment and insurance.

More details (BBC News)

10. A stuntman is to attempt to fall from 2,400ft on to a pile of cardboard boxes using a "wingsuit". Gary Connery, 42, will hurtle towards the 350ft long and 40ft wide landing strip at 60mph.

More details (Sunday Times - subscription only)