Pop legend Kate Bush has joined forced with boys from Magdalen College choir to record a song for the soundtrack to new blockbuster film The Golden Compass.

The movie, which opens in cinemas on Wednesday, December 5, is the film version of Northern Lights, the first book in the award-winning fantasy trilogy by Oxford author Philip Pullman.

The song Lyra is named after the lead character Lyra Belacqua, who is played in the movie by Dakota Blue Richards.

The song was written and produced by Kate Bush, and features boys from Magdalen College School, singing with Magdalen College choir.

Claire Ferguson, who works with the choir, said: "Kate recorded her vocal track separately but she did come into the school to work with the boys."

The singer, who will always be remembered for her No.1 smash hit Wuthering Heights in 1978, was recording her first new material since 2005.

Starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, the film and its soundtrack will be released next month.

Bush's last new material appeared on the critically acclaimed album Aerial, her first album for 12 years. Her new song will be played over the film's end credits.

The film is directed by About A Boy's Chris Weitz.

The other books in Mr Pullman's fantasy trilogy are The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

Mr Pullman, who lives in Cumnor, joined the fight to save the Castle Mill boatyard in Jericho and wants to preserve the area from over-development.

He is now working on a follow-up to the trilogy, which is expected to be called The Book of Dust.