The are on every amateur cook's wish list.

Like an Aga, Le Creuset pans are seen as the gold standard and are a must-have in the kitchen for many.

Le Creuset, renowned for its vibrant, enamelled cast iron cookware, was founded in 1925 in Fresnoy-le-Grand by two Belgian industrialists, Armand Desaegher and Octave Aubecq, who pioneered enamelling cast iron and introduced the iconic "cocotte" (French oven).

The first enamel colour, inspired by the fiery orange of molten cast iron, became their signature hue, known as "Volcanic."

English cookery writer Elizabeth David promoted Le Creuset in the UK, particularly in her 1969 booklet "Cooking with Le Creuset," and a blue colour in the cookware range was created for her.

Le Creuset expanded its product line beyond pots and pans, including grills, fondue sets, and other kitchen utensils, and also expanded its international presence. The first UK orders arrived in Selfridges in 1961.

But while they are still much coveted today they don't come cheap and you can expect to pay anywhere between £250 and £500 depending on the model. The Signature Cast Iron Round Casserole, Volcanic, 26cm is currently £271 on sale in John Lewis, down from an eye-watering £339.

The Le Creuset Signature enamelled cast iron oval casserole dishwith lid 40cm, is even pricier and currently costs £458 on Amazon.

But the price doesn't deter enthusiasts. Recently hundreds of people flocked to a sale at the brand's Hampshire warehouse, causing four-hour queues and so much traffic that police were called!

But if you missed the sale and still can't afford one even in the current Easter sales, the Guardian newspaper has surveyed a pick of cheaper lookalikes.

They recommend checking out Robert Dyas, John Lewis own brand, Season and Pro Cook for some pretty chic alternatives that still look good and are hopefully as durable as the real thing.

The Robert Dyas cast iron oval casserole pan and lid in orange retails at just £39.99 at the moment and it looks almosy identical to the famous Le Creuset one.

The high-street retailer has a range of casserole pots in the much-loved orange, and also cream or charcoal grey, and in several sizes between 22cm and 30cm. The bundles of two or three pots offer good value.

Not on the Guardian wish list but coming in at just £33.75 is the gorgeous orange 5.3 litre cast iron casserole dish with lid from Habitat.

And if you don't fancy orange and want to buck the trend then the John Lewis Cast Iron Round Casserole, in stylish teal blue, 21cm, retails at £55.

ProCook offers even more choice of colours. Their cast iron oval casserole dish 30cm/6.2l comes in a super stylish matte black, red, white ,blue, green or grey, which should cover most people's kitchen decor and retails at £75.

But what do professional chefs think? Nigella Lawson is a big fan of Le Creuset, stating she has a "particular fondness" for Le Creuset enameled cast-iron cookware, praising its heat conduction, flab=vour enhancement and ease of cleaning. She even mentions the "original 'Volcanique' orange can't be improved on".

Mary Berry is also a fan of le Creuset although she does point out they can be heavy to lift.

Not that she is a professional chef but the Duchess of Sussex has been seen using Le Creuset cookware in her Netflix series, "With Love, Meghan," showcasing its use in preparing dishes like wings, frittatas, and pasta.

However down-to-earth Jamie Oliver has been in partnership with Tefal for years and says he "just loves their pans - they're my go-to at home for everyday cooking." So if it's good enough for Jamie maybe you don't need one after all.