Angela Cannings, the Salisbury mother convicted of murdering her two baby sons, is to appeal against her conviction, her solicitor said on Monday.

The 38-year-old was sentenced to life last month at Winchester Crown Court for the murder of seven-week-old Jason in June 1991 and 18-week-old Matthew in November 1999.

Her solicitor, William Bache, said an appeal was lodged with the Court of Appeal in London on Friday.

During the trial, Cannings' lawyer Michael Mansfield QC, argued that the death of the two boys was a tragic coincidence, caused by sudden infant death syndrome - cot death.

Chemical research

The court heard that Cannings' first child, Gemma also died, in 1989, but no charges were brought in relation that the death.

Mr Mansfield also suggested that the proximity of the Cannings' then home in Winterbourne Gunner, Wiltshire, to the Porton Down chemical research base could have been a factor in the deaths.