Serial killer Stephen Port has lodged an appeal against his murder convictions, it is understood.

The 43-year-old - known as the Grindr killer for the way he attracted his victims - was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016 for the rape and murders of four young men at his flat in Barking between 2014 and 2015.

Daniel Whitworth, 21, from Gravesend, Anthony Walgate, 23, Jack Taylor, 25 and Gabriel Kovari, 22, were all drugged and raped by Port, before their bodies were dumped.

He was also found guilty of a string offences against other victims.

It is thought Port is in the early stages of lodging his appeal.

Earlier this week, it was revealed he received £136,000 in legal aid while the families of his victims have resorted to crowdfunding to pay for a new inquest.

This month an inquest was told an internal police report into the serial killings will be shown to the families within six weeks.