Jeanette Winterson will pen a horror novel for the film company Hammer as it moves into the world of publishing.

The Whitbread prize-winning author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is the first writer commissioned to produce a novella under the publishing deal.

Hammer is partnering with Arrow Books, part of Random House, to produce a series of horror titles.

The film company, founded in 1934 and famed for its British-made shockers, has recently been revived.

It is adapting The Woman in Black with Daniel Radcliffe, and will release its first film in 30 years next month: Let Me In, starring Chloe Moretz.