Supermarket group Tesco is to extend its reach into the film sector.

The grocer, which already offers services such as banking, has formed a partnership with production company Amber Entertainment, to make films of books by top authors.

Paris Connections, a thriller based on a Jackie Collins book, will be the first release. It is being filmed in Paris next month and will go straight to DVD.

Films of books by writers including Dick Francis and Philip Pullman are likely to follow. Tesco expects the initiative to boost sales at its entertainment division – it is already a big retailer of books and other entertainment products.

Under the deal with Amber, Tesco will focus on focus on marketing and selling the films and will not be involved in screenplay content.