MOST women know that a handbag is more than just a repository for their make-up, money and mobile. But the full extent of her attachment to the tote is only just coming to light.

It follows the unveiling of the world's most expensive handbag earlier this week, a Luis Vuitton with a price tag of £23,500.

But even more surprising is the fact that British women spend a whopping £96 billion on bags between them, according to new research.

This means the average woman splashes out more than £4,000 on bags in a typical lifespan.

The Daily Echo's Allyson Howden, a sub-editor and self-confessed bag-a-holic, thought it sounded like a reasonable figure.

"I've certainly spent more than that on bags already! The most I have ever spent is £250 on a Radley bag. I saw it on eBay and just had to have it.

"I have always loved bags. I have got quite a collection now - I think I must have about 30. Occasionally I will take them out of their storage bags from the top of the wardrobe, fondle them for a while and put them back again.

"My husband doesn't really understand and has been getting a bit concerned about the lack of storage space but I've managed to convince him that they are an investment.

"If you buy a limited edition bag from the shop when it first comes out you can double your money by selling it at a later date on eBay. The trouble is I love them so much I find it very difficult to part with them!"

Allyson admits she has far more bags than she needs and tends to use the same tote bag for work.

"It's easier than having to take everything out and transfer it across to another one as I do carry quite a bit around with me. I'm not minimalist. I don't like clutch bags. I save my favourite bags for special occasions."

Sarah Morgan, store director at Beales in Bournemouth, used to be a professional handbag buyer.

"I do love handbags so it was a dream job for a while.

"I used to have one to match every pair of shoes. If I wore blue shoes I had to have a blue bag, if I had black shoes I had to have a black bag.

"But I think when you buy bags for a living it does cure you in the end. Rather than having lots of different bags I tend to have one big expensive one now, which is usually the bag I use for work.

"At the moment I have a Mulberry bag with lots of pockets but I'm actually looking to replace it at the moment.

"I tend to change my work bag every season. I like the fact that bags are getting wider rather than deeper so it's easier to find things.

"They also come with different coloured linings now so it's easier to find your black accessories like your mobile phone or hair brush.

"The most I've ever spent on a bag is about £490.

"We do sell a lot of handbags and I think they are becoming more popular than ever.

"A lot of working women tend to have one big bag these days rather than a bag and a briefcase. I don't know how men cope without them!"

But local graduate Gabrielle Sander from Springbourne, is more of a secret admirer of the carry-all than a fanatic.

"The most I've ever splashed out on a bag is about £30, and that was a treat. I have a closet obsession for beautiful handbags, often drooling over pictures of the latest Chloe or Marc Jacobs number. If I had a healthier income I would invest in a bag that I felt would last, but I certainly wouldn't chop and change with the seasons."

Women are so fond of their bags one in five consider them the most important item in their wardrobe, according to a poll of 3,000 females.

The average woman has about 17 different bags in her collection. Two thirds say they would like even more - even though the same percentage admit they had bags in their collection they rarely use.

More than half agreed that a gorgeous handbag made them feel more confident.