Attempts to demolish a south Wales house where a family died in an arson attack are being fought by two women convicted - but later cleared - of the crime.

South Wales Police, who are to look again at the murders of Diane Jones and her two young daughters, have asked Merthyr Tydfil council to delay its plans to knock down the house on the Gurnos estate.

And two women - who were jailed for the attack but later freed - are also fighting the plans, claiming the house could hold vital evidence to trace the real killer.

It is five years since petrol was poured through the front door of the house and set alight killing 21-year-old Diane Jones and her two young daughters.

Annette Hewins was jailed for the murders for 13 years, but cleared by the Appeal Court. Her niece Donna Clarke - jailed for 20 years - was also freed after a judge decided she should not face a retrial.

Since then both have been campaigning for the case to be reinvestigated.

Now they are fighting the demolition plans.

"Pulling this house down is only going to make things worse," said Donna Clarke.

"There's evidence in there - forensic tests to be done. There could be vital clues in there that could lead us to the real killers and that's what we want."

The council has already started knocking down 130 run-down properties on the Gurnos estate.

The Jones house was also due for demolition in the next few days after the Crown Prosecution Service said it had no further interest in the property.

Bulldozers

But South Wales Police - who plan to look again at the case - have asked the authority to delay its plans.

Merthyr Tydfil Council's Stephen Dodsworth said the authority was taking a considered view of the issue.

"We will be discussing it further both with the police and with representatives from the council before making a decision," he said.

Both Donna Clarke and Annette Hewins have vowed to chain themselves to the house to stop the bulldozers should the council decide to go ahead.