One of the main reasons why we love vampires is that they're just so sexy. Think of Eric in True Blood, or Damon in The Vampire Diaries. Who wouldn't want their neck nibbled by either of these two? When it comes to undead appeal, sexy vampires are far in the lead - nobody's going to fall in love with a zombie!

Vampires always dress beautifully. While zombies shamble around in increasingly shabby clothes, the vampire pays attention to sartorial elegance. You wouldn't mind borrowing their wardrobe, which is full of smart (probably designer) clothing. It's usually black (which doesn't show the bloodstains) - and you can't go wrong with a beautifully cut black dress or suit.

As long as the vampire avoids stake-wielding enemies and stays away from sunlight, he or she can pretty much hang around forever. This makes them an appealing subject for the screen. After all, who wants to get old? Vampires also stay looking good in spite of being hundreds of years old. It's the ultimate anti-aging solution. Shame about the bloodsucking - but everything has its price …

Vampires are always physically and emotionally strong (inasmuch as they have emotions). There are no wimpy vampires. They can throw people across a room, jump huge heights, and crush their human lovers against their non-beating heart. No wonder they're so attractive. It would be fun to be that strong …

Tortured souls have always been appealing - think of how many adoring fans poets like Byron and Shelley had. Admittedly, vampires don't have souls, but they do still manage quite a lot of brooding - especially in Twilight. That 'bad boy' appeal means that the vampire remains perennially popular. 'Good' characters are never as interesting as the 'bad' guys …

Vampires usually live in amazing homes, often hundreds of years old (like themselves) or luxury mansions. Their longevity allows them to accumulate substantial wealth. Who wouldn't want to live like them if they had the money? So watching vampire movies and serials is like reading 'Beautiful Homes' or a gossip magazine that features images of a star's lovely home. It allows us to dream of our perfect home.

Although the basic premise of vampire stories is always the same, writers still find some new angles. In True Blood, vampires are now members of society. In the new version of Dracula, the title character is portrayed much more sympathetically than usual, and Van Helsing is working with Dracula. Vampires have also made some interesting appearances recently in movies such as Let the Right One In and Daybreakers.

Vampires legends have always been around, but when Bram Stoker wrote Dracula he could never have imagined that he was spawning a vast industry of literature and moving pictures. And it doesn't look like the vampires are going out of business any time soon. What do you love about vampires?