EXACTLY 100 years ago this autumn, a character called Peter Rabbit was introduced to the world, and has remained immensely popular ever since.

Peter Rabbit was created by an artist called Beatrix Potter, who had first displayed a talent for drawing when she was a child.

Educated privately, she led a rather solitary life, and spent many hours sketching.

But it was some years before her talent was recognised, and even then it was quite by chance.

When she was in her late 20s, she wrote a letter to a five-year-old boy, the son of a friend, to try to cheer him up, as he wasn't very well.

In the letter she created the story of a rabbit called Peter.

Pleased with the result of the story, she tried to turn it into a book but couldn't find a publisher and eventually in 1901, had 250 copies privately printed which she gave to family and friends.

The following year, she found a commercial publisher and the book was an instant success when it was issued.

For the next few years, Beatrix turned out around two books a year, until she married in 1913.

After that, only five more books were written and she eventually died in the 1940s, at her home in the Lake District.

The books have been endlessly reprinted over the years, often looking very much like the originals.

The very early first editions can be worth a few hundred pounds each, but the subsequent editions have only modest value in comparison.

However there are many other Beatrix Potter collectables, including soft toys and board games, but by far the most popular are those made in pottery.

Best known are those made by the Stoke-on-Trent firm of Beswick which began producing them in 1948.

Prices vary enormously depending on model and back-stamp (generally, the gold back-stamps tend to be more sought-after) and while most of these figures of characters from the books tend to be worth £30 to £50 each, the rarer pieces can be worth as much as £250.

The Beswick company was eventually taken over by Royal Doulton, which continued the figures but using its Royal Albert back-stamp for a period.

Another company that has produced Peter Rabbit pottery collectables is Wedgwood.

It has turned out a series of plates, mugs and other items featuring scenes from the books. While not as in-demand as the figures, these items still have a collecting following, and prices can vary from £5 to £35 depending on particular design.

The endearing characters created by Beatrix Potter, including not only Peter Rabbit but Benjamin Bunny, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Mrs Tittlemouse -- continue to be as popular with children today as they were a century ago.