Duchess of York sells Little Red film rights

Sarah, Duchess of York, has sold the film rights to her Little Red children's books to a major US movie company, it was revealed today.

The deal, which is reported to be potentially worth millions, will boost the Duchess's finances just weeks after she was threatened with court action over unpaid bills.

"A major US film company has just bought up rights to my series of pre-school children's books," the Duchess told the Daily Mail newspaper.

She added: "I cannot tell you how exciting that is for me. America has been so good to me."

The deal centres on the Duchess's Little Red series about a red-headed girl and her various adventures.

It also includes her most recent book, Tea for Ruby, about a child who receives a surprise invitation to tea with the Queen and tries hard to practise princess-like manners.

The Duchess recently co-produced the film The Young Victoria after coming up with the idea to make a movie about Queen Victoria's early years with Prince Albert.

Her previous children's books about Budgie the Little Helicopter were made into a cartoon.