Builder David Morris, 40, was found guilty of murdering divorcee Mandy Power, her daughters Katie, 10, and Emily, eight and her mother Doris Dawson at their home in Clydach in the Swansea Valley.

Mandy Power and her daughters were victims

Lawyers for Morris lodged the appeal against the conviction at the High Court on Wednesday.

His lawyers say it will take around three months to find out if he will be given a fresh hearing before three appeal judges in London.

Morris's family have continued to protest his innocence and a poster campaign appeared supporting the convicted killer.

Advances rejected

During the trial, the jury at Swansea Crown Court heard Morris beat his victims with an iron bar before setting their house ablaze.

He was angered after 34-year-old Mandy Power refused his sexual advances following a casual relationship, the court was told.

Patrick Harrington QC, prosecuting, said Mrs Power had been beaten 38 times with the murder weapon.

Eighty-year-old Doris Dawson was murdered as she lay in bed. Morris then set her body alight.

One of the children's bodies lay on the landing. Another was found in their bedroom, still in a cowering position.

Kitchen units

Morris was caught after a bloodstained gold necklace, ripped from his neck during the murders, was found in the house by forensic scientists.

Paint found on the jewellery exactly matched paint found on kitchen units at Morris' home.

The trial came to a conclusion three years and a day after the murders were committed.

Morris was not arrested until nearly two years after the tragedy in June 1999.

Three earlier suspects - Mandy Power's lesbian lover Alison Lewis, her former husband Stephen Lewis and his brother Stuart - have since announced they are to sue the force for damages.

At the time of their arrests, all three were police officers.

Mrs Lewis has since left South Wales Police force.