THE Lost Boys are now Old Boys, Wendy is a mother and a poet, Tinker Bell has been replaced by Fireflyer and Neverland is a polluted, autumnal landscape.

These are the leaked secret details of the highly anticipated forthcoming sequel to JM Barrie's Peter Pan which has sparked an investigation reaching from London to New York.

But some things never change: Peter Pan hasn't grown up and he still can't read or write.

"Peter Pan in Scarlet" isn't due out until October, but the New York Times earlier this week published the secrets after obtaining a copy of the manuscript.

JM Barrie bequeathed the copyright of his original classic to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in 1929 and the sequel is an attempt to cash in on the royalties before the rights expire in 2007.

The hospital and the book's publishers, Oxford University Press, are now trying to find out how the manuscript found its way into the hands of the US newspaper.

In its article, the New York Times also revealed that the book is set in 1926 - more than 20 years after JM Barrie's play was first produced on the London stage.

A joint statement from the hospital's Children's Charity and the publishers said: "Obviously we will be trying to find out, in conjunction with the US publisher of Peter Pan in Scarlet, how this has happened.

"However, as the published article only included a few new details, plus some inaccuracies, we do not feel that the secrecy around the manuscript has been compromised.

"We are delighted with the interest that publication of Peter Pan in Scarlet has generated and look forward very much to 5th October when so much more will be revealed!"

In August 2004, the Hospital launched the search for an author to write the sequel to Peter Pan.

Entrants were asked to submit a sample chapter and synopsis. London author and teacher Geraldine McCaughrean was chosen from nearly 200 entries from around the world.