Seperate a variable

Hi, I m extracting a variable from a dbase and assigning it as say $var .The Value of this variable is always a/or more number/s at the begining followed by a set of characters .I want to seperate the numbers from the characters.Can anybody explain me how to say value of $var= 511Tha -- Donot rely on the Operating System which don't have any sources for. -Seen somewhere on the Net __ _ _ _ _ |_|_||_||_||\/||_|| \ _|| || || \| || ||_/