A PETITION in support of an appeal for a jockey jailed for murdering a North-East father has been launched at Westminster.

The family of Christy McGrath are hoping the Court of Appeal will re-examine the case of the murder of former footballer Gary Walton.

Mr Walton was found dead near his home in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in July 2000, after spending the night drinking in the Miners Arms. McGrath, 25, was jailed for life in January 2001 at Teesside Crown Court when he pleaded guilty to the killing.

He changed his plea on the eve of his trial, but claimed he was told he would receive a reduced sentence if he pleaded guilty.

McGrath's parents, Christy senior and Anne, were joined by Grand National winner Richard Guest at the hand-over of the petition yesterday.

Father-of-two Mr Walton, 37, played for Newcastle United reserves, and in 1981 won the club's Golden Boot for scoring 39 goals in the middle of a three-year spell with the Magpies.

After leaving Newcastle, he played for the Coundon Three Tuns and Coundon Working Men's Club football teams for ten years.

Mr Walton's sister Sharon Caton, speaking on behalf of the family, said: "The whole family is outraged that this should be brought up again so close to the anniversary of Gary's death."