Graduate author Webb sells sequel

Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman starred in the film of The Graduate

The author of the book The Graduate - on which the movie was based - has sold the rights to a sequel to Random House.

It is thought author Charles Webb - who recently said he made very little money from the original - will once again feature the infamous Mrs Robinson.

The ageing temptress seduced Benjamin Braddock, the title character. The roles were played by Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman in the film version.

The book is scheduled to be published in June 2007.

According to the Times, the author was initially reluctant to negotiate a publishing deal for this new book.

He had accepted a one-off payment of £14,000 for the original novel - a decision which then meant he did not share in the film's success.

A clause in the contract took away from him any film rights for sequels to The Graduate.

Mr Webb feared French company Canal Plus would decide to make a film of the follow-up without his permission, the newspaper said, but then relented.

Last month it was reported that Webb, 66, faced eviction from his East Sussex home because of rent arrears.