A PETITION calling for changes to the way the Court of Appeal works has been started by the postmaster almost killed by two youths who had their prison sentences reduced by the Court of Appeal.

Alan Davies and his wife Rosalind decided to collect signatures after Thomas Lloyd and Malcolm Hitchings, who were sentenced to 12 years, had their term reduced by a third.

Mrs Davies and her husband have been overwhelmed by local people's reaction since the court's decision to reduce the sentences became known last week "Everyone's been very caring and supportive and they think there is something wrong with the judicial system," she said.

She added this stength of feeling hadprompted them to raise the petition, which can be signed at their own post office and also post offices in Barnards Green, Hanley Castle, Upton and Welland.

In a few weeks' time, Mrs Davies will collate the petition and send it to the relevant minister in the Home Office.

She said it was too late to change what had happened but their hope was "to change things for the better in the future."

"The justice system worked at Alan's original trial, but the appeal court has over-ridden what was decided.

"Ordinary people don't understand the procedures but they don't think it's right," she added.

Mr Davies was seriously injured in 2005 when Lloyd and Hitchings beat him with an iron bar after he caught them breaking into his store. Both he and his wife feel that victims should have the right to be listened to at appeal hearings.

Mrs Davies said that no-one knew just how devastating the attack on her husband had been and, although they were very lucky he had survived, their lives had been changed for ever.