Barbie set to be biggest-selling toy this Christmas, thanks to Margot Robbie movie

The iconic doll has had a resurgence of popularity in recent years, and with all the hype surrounding the upcoming Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, online marketplace OnBuy predicts Barbie-mania will reach fever pitch.

Melissa Watson of Ilkley with her beloved Barbies, pictured in 2009

Barbie was introduced in 1959, sporting a striped swimsuit and signature ponytail. She was created by Ruth Handler, co-founder of children's toy company Mattel, inspired by daughter Barbara’s love of fashion dolls.

Today there are Barbies in a range of shapes, sizes and careers. 

"I loved to change their clothes and play with their hair," says Melissa

What toys did you love? Here are celebrate some favourites from the past - from the Rubik’s Cube - invented by a Hungarian architect, it became one of the biggest puzzle games in 1980s popular culture, with millions of cubes sold worldwide - to Polly Pocket, launched in 1983 as plastic cases that opened to form a dolls house filled with figurines less than an inch tall. Lots of fun to be had in a miniature world.

Polly Pocket, with figurines less than an inch tall

Action Man, with his swivel eyes and gripping hands, was introduced to Britain in 1966, by Palitoy.

Military hero Action Man was a favourite

Then there, Mecanno, created in 1898 by Frank Hornby, comprised metal strips, angle girders, wheels and axles, nuts and bolts. It put the fun into civil engineering!

Mecanno was hugely popular

Anyone remember these creepy creatures?

The Rubik's Cube was popular worldwide

Popular dolls in the 1960s included the Walk With Me doll and Tearful Tammy

Dinky Toys was a range of die-cast zamak zinc alloy scale model vehicles produced by Meccano Ltd. They were made in a Liverpool factory from 1934 to 1979