Barbie, that well-loved vision in pink, stopped off in York to meet young fans in a tour of shops across the north of England.

The walking, talking, living doll was at the Coney Street branch of Woolworth's to meet junior consumers eyeing up the stock with their thoughts on Christmas.

She gave out pink balloons and forms to enter a Barbie competition.

Neil Taylor, toys section team leader at Woolworths, said all Barbie stock would have ten per cent off all week as part of the promotion.

Barbie, who is now 41, politely declined to comment on her enthusiastic reception in York.

In a sign she has truly reached star status, she said she was not permitted to speak to the press.