MILLIONS of children around the world have been enthralled by her adventures with the White Rabbit and other bizarre characters.

Alice in Wonderland, the classic tale inspired by a ten-year-old girl who spent most of her adult life in Hampshire, has gripped generations of youngsters since it was first published in 1865.

Now traders in Lyndhurst are preparing to stage an Alice in Wonderland this weekend to mark the 150th anniversary of the book’s debut.

The Mad Hatter and other characters will spend Saturday and Sunday entertaining residents and visitors to the village – last resting place of the “real” Alice.

One of the organisers, Emma Barcia, said: “It will be a fun weekend with lots of themed windows and of course Alice herself.

“Shop windows along the High Street will be dressed to impress – as will the traders. Everyone should look out for some unusual characters behind the counters.

“People can enjoy Mad Hatter tea parties in cafes and Alice cocktails in the Fox and Hounds pub.”

Alice in Wonderland was written by Lewis Carroll, who based the central character on a girl he knew in the 1860s.

Carroll was friends with Henry Liddell, vice-chancellor of Oxford University and Dean of Christchurch, Oxford.

During a boat trip on the River Thames Carroll entertained Alice Liddell and the Dean’s other two children by telling them a story about a little girl who suddenly finds herself in a strange new land.

In 1864 he gave Alice a written version of the tale and published it commercially the following year.

After marrying Reginald Hargreaves at Westminster Abbey in 1880 Alice moved to Lyndhurst and lived in an 18th century mansion called Cuffnells.

She died aged 82 in 1934 and her ashes are buried in the graveyard at St Michael and All Angels Church in Lyndhurst.

As reported in the Daily Echo, her grave is due to be restored as part of Lyndhurst’s celebrations throughout 2015 to mark Alice in Wonderland’s 150th anniversary.

The church warden, Ann Rogers, recently described the 7ft square grave as “a real mess”.

She added: “We get lots of visitors to see Alice’s grave.

“Every day there’s a family struggling to find it in the church grounds.

“There are some Alice bits and pieces in the shops in the village so people buy something and then come here to look at the grave.”