FORMER Ramsbottom MP David Chaytor has launched a bid to challenge his 18-month jail sentence for fiddling his parliamentary expenses.

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, and two other judges will hear an application by 61-year-old Chaytor, of Lumbutts, Todmorden, at the Court of Appeal on March 22.

If the judges grant permission to appeal on that day they will go on to hear the full challenge. The prosecution will also be represented.

Chaytor, a former Labour MP who forged tenancy documents and invoices to falsely claim more than £22,000 of taxpayers' money for rent and IT work from the Commons authorities, was jailed on January 7.

He falsely claimed £5,425 between September 2007 and January 2008 for renting a cottage in Castle Street, Summerseat.

Chaytor, a former lecturer, initially denied the charges but changed his plea after failing to have the case thrown out citing parliamentary privilege and that he could not receive a fair trial because of media scrutiny.