A DATE has been set for an appeal against the conviction of a former Leighton Hospital nurse who was sent to prison for attempted murder.

Barbara Salisbury was jailed for five years at Chester Crown Court last June, after being found guilty of trying to murder Frank Owen, 92, and May Taylor, 88, at Leighton Hospital in 2002.

She was cleared of attempting to murder James Byrne - a 76-year-old Davenham man - in 1999 and Reuben Thompson, 81, a former Middlewich furniture maker in 2002.

Her defence counsel maintained throughout her trial that the ward sister was the victim of a colleague hate campaign and was not guilty of trying to 'mercy kill' patients by administering lethal doses of the painkiller diamorphine.

An appeal hearing into the case will now be heard in London's Court of Appeal on November 7 and 8.

A spokesman for Salisbury's family said: "We look forward to a successful outcome and having Barbara back with us as soon as possible."