FOUR men serving life for the murder of a Bradford man, who died after a brutal acid attack, today lost an appeal against their convictions.

Barry Selby, 50, died in hospital three days after he was shot in the leg and had acid thrown in his face by men who broke into his home in Rayleigh Street, East Bowling, in October 2013.

Lee Michael Calvert, 25, Joseph Lowther, 23, Robert Patrick Woodhead, 29, and Andrew Kyle Feather, 25, were all found guilty of his murder at Bradford Crown Court in June 2014.

All four men have mounted bids to clear their names at London's Criminal Appeal Court, claiming they were denied a fair trial.

Their lawyers argued 'crucial' evidence was given by witnesses whose identity was concealed.

Their conviction appeals were rejected today by three senior judges, who said the grant of anonymity to those witnesses was 'not open to challenge'.

However the judges went on to reduce all four killers' sentences, ruling they were 'too long'.

Calvert, of Stirling Crescent, Holme Wood, had his minimum term of 36 years cut to 32 years.

Lowther, of Copgrove Road, Holme Wood, and Woodhead, of Fred's Place, Tyersal, had their 32-year tariffs cut to 27 years.

Feather, of Heysham Drive, Holme Wood, who acted as the getaway driver, was originally ordered to serve 26 years before he could apply for parole, but will now serve 20.

Lord Justice Davis, sitting with Mrs Justice Carr and Judge Nicholas Cooke QC, said: "Calvert was clearly assessed as the ringleader".

But the judge ruled: "Notwithstanding the appalling and terrorising nature of this criminality, extended over two grave incidents, a minimum term of 36 years imprisonment for someone of his age, and lacking intent to kill, was too long."

He added that the reduction in Calvert's sentence 'necessarily' meant the other three men's sentences also had to be adjusted downwards.

Once the four have served their minimum terms, they will be freed if they can satisfy the Parole Board they pose no further danger to the public.