A CAMPAIGN to free jailed Leighton Hospital nurse Barbara Salisbury is being stepped up.

Salisbury, a former nursing sister at the Crewe hospital, was jailed last year for the attempted murder of two of her patients but has always protested her innocence.

High Court judges will meet on April 11 to decide if she can fight her conviction in court.

The former nursing sister was sentenced to five years in prison in June 2004 for attempting to murder Crewe pensioner May Taylor, 88, and Nantwich man Frank Owen, 92.

She tried to hasten their deaths by pumping them with diamorphine. Both later died.

She was cleared of attempting to kill two other patients - 76 year-old James Byrne, of Davenham, and 81 year-old Rueben Thompson of Crewe.

Now, backed by her family, Salisbury's legal team are waiting to mount a case against her conviction in a second bid to secure her freedom.

Her first appeal in August 2004 was turned down by a single judge three months later.

In November 2004 appeal papers were lodged again with the court and Salisbury, 49, has been waiting for a decision ever since.

A spokesman for the High Court said: 'A date of April 11 has been set. Three judges will sit and decide if leave to appeal can be granted.'

If leave to appeal is granted Salisbury's defence team will be able to call new witnesses and present new evidence from the original case.

A spokesman for the Salisbury family said: 'This is the best news Barbara and the family has had for a long while. We are now hoping for a positive outcome on April 11.'

Salisbury's solicitor Mike Mackey from Manchester law firm Burton Copeland said: 'We will argue the case on April 11.'