A world-first interactive avatar has been created of Pride and Prejudice's Elizabeth Bennet - meaning Jane Austen fans can now 'meet' and talk with the character.

AI firm StarPal and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) have combined to build "Lizzy" - who can speak, move, and interact with people.

Creators say Lizzy's avatar has been developed to "mirror [her] human qualities" detailed in Pride and Prejudice, such as "humour and empathy".

She has also been given "a knowledge bank" from a selection of novels, manuscripts, and period-accurate information - which will allow her to have in-depth conversations with fans.

And, the more she chats with fans, the more her conversations will evolve - meaning each person will have a "unique" experience.