The man convicted of causing the deaths of 10 people in the Selby train crash is to appeal against his conviction.

Solicitors acting for Gary Hart, 37, have lodged papers for an appeal against his conviction for causing the deaths by dangerous driving.

A spokesman at the Court of Appeal in London said the papers were transferred from Leeds Crown Court, where Hart was tried, to London on 3 January.

Hart was sentenced to five years in prison after jurors decided he had fallen asleep at the wheel of his Land Rover.

The car plunged off the M62 and on to the main East Coast railway line, near the village of Great Heck in North Yorkshire in February 2001.

Moments later the Land Rover was hit by a speeding passenger train which then ploughed into a fully-laden coal train.

Six passengers and four rail employees died in the crash.

A total of 76 people were treated in hospital.