Three people have denied murdering children in a Walkden house fire.

During a half hour hearing at Manchester Crown Court Zak Bolland, Courtney Brierley and David Worrall all pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

Bolland, aged 23, of Blackleach Drive, Walkden, and Worrall, aged 25, of no fixed address, sat it the dock for the plea hearing whilst Brierley, aged 20, of Worsley Avenue, Walkden, appeared via a video link from prison.

Members of the children’s family sat in the public gallery and wept as the charges were put to the defendants.

On December 11 last year Demi Pearson, aged 15, her brother Brandon, aged eight, and sister Lacie, aged seven, died when a blaze broke out at their home in Jackson Street, Walkden in the early hours of the morning. Their sister, three-year-old Lia, died two days later.

The children’s mother, Michelle Pearson, aged 35, was seriously injured.

Two other juveniles, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were in the house at the time but managed to escape before fire crews arrived.

The accused’  trial, which is expected to last four weeks, is due to start at Manchester Crown Court on April 30.

All three will remain in custody until then.