THE true story of a girl who survived the hangman's noose in Oxford is about to go on sale in bookstores.

Newes from the Dead, by Oxfordshire author Mary Hooper, is published on Thursday, and tells the story of Anne Green, a young servant girl who was unjustly hanged in Oxford in 1650 - and lived to tell the tale.

Anne was found guilty of infanticide but she was innocent as she had suffered a stillborn pregnancy.

Mother-of-two Mrs Hooper said the moment she heard about the story she wanted to write about it.

She said: "I've written quite a few books over the years but I think this could be the big one.

"I first heard Anne's story mentioned in a programme on Radio 4 a few years ago and I thought I should get on to it straight away.

"I started researching it and wondered why no one had turned it into a novel before.

"Anne's death and revival have been documented many times over the years from the point of view of the doctors who were instrumental in her revival, but I wanted to write the story from Anne's perspective.

"As it was originally being written with an adult audience in mind, this book is older in content and more explicit than my other historical books."

Anne was imprisoned in Oxford jail and was hung in the castle yard in Oxford - where the Malmaison Hotel now stands - on December 14, 1650.

A few hours later, Anne's corpse lay on the doctors' table waiting to be dissected for medical science, but when doctors gathered in the room they heard a cough.

Anne was still alive and news of the medical "miracle" spread like wildfire, making Anne an overnight celebrity.

Newes from the Dead is already receiving lots of attention in the book trade and has been selected as Waterstone's Book of the Month in April.

Mrs Hooper carried out detailed historical research for the story, visiting the house where Anne lived as a servant girl in Duns Tew.

There are numerous other Oxfordshire settings throughout the story.

The book accurately portrays Oxford Gaol in 1650, showing grim conditions and over- crowding.

Mrs Hooper has written about 70 books for children and young people over the past 30 years and now specialises in turning dark historical events into novels.

Newes from the Dead looks set to be one of Mrs Hooper's bestsellers and will also be published in the US, France and Germany.

One of her previous novels, Two Naughty Angels , was optioned for a film by Disney but the project was delayed because of the Hollywood writers' strike.

The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose is also on the longlist for the Carnegie Children's Book Award.

Newes from the Dead is published by Bodley Head, priced £8.99.