BEATRIX Potter lovers travelled from around the world to celebrate their favourite storyteller at a gathering in Kendal.

The Beatrix Potter Society welcomed around 100 members from as far afield as Japan, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands and the USA for its 18th international conference.

Miranda Gore Brown, who chairs the society, told delegates at the Castle Green Hotel: "I think all of us can agree Beatrix Potter would have been delighted to know the children of Kendal and other Lake District communities are reading, enjoying and being inspired by her stories."

To toast the 100th birthday of The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse, the society invited school children to paint pictures inspired by the story of Johnny and his homesick, country-loving friend, Timmy Willie.

Winners of the centenary competition were Evie Miller of St Oswald's CE Primary School, Burneside, and Sydney Davidson and Jagoda Siwak of Dean Gibson Catholic Primary School, Kendal.

Society chair Miranda told the talented young artists: "I hope some of you will be inspired to follow in Beatrix Potter’s footsteps and will carry on drawing, painting and writing stories just like she did as a little girl."

This year's conference featured a market place of crafts and products showcased by entrepreneurial women from across Cumbria.

Precious artefacts from London's Victoria and Albert Museum were also on view, such as a watercolour painted by the ten-year-old Beatrix, and a handwritten letter to Millie Warne, sister of her publisher and fiancé Norman Warne.

Actress Dame Patricia Routledge, the society's patron, sent her best wishes to delegates for their five days in the Lake District. In her message, she said there were always new discoveries to be made about Beatrix Potter, "this remarkable, multi-gifted woman".

She added: "So strong is the sense of her presence up there that one feels it’s not out of the question to find oneself turning the corner of a country lane, in the dusk, and bumping into Mrs Heelis on her way home to Castle Cottage from tending one of her beloved Herdwick sheep."