TWO men have been jailed for life for the murder of four children who died in a house fire in Walkden.

Zak Bolland and David Worrall were both handed life sentences and told they must serve a minimum of 40 years and 37 years respectively.

Courtney Brierley, who was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter, was given 21 years in a young offenders’ institution.

Bolland, 23, of Blackleach Drive, Walkden, was found guilty of murdering four children and of three counts of attempted murder.

Worrall, aged 25, of Worsley Avenue, Walkden, was found guilty of murdering four children but found not guilty of three counts of attempted murder.

He was found guilty of three alternative counts of attempting to cause GBH with intent.

Brierley, aged 20, of Worsley Avenue, Walkden, was found not guilty of murdering four children but found guilty of the alternative of manslaughter in each case.

Brierley was found not guilty of three counts of attempted murder.

Demi Pearson, 15, and her siblings Brandon, eight, and Lacie, seven, died in the arson attack on their home in Jackson Street, Walkden, at 5am on Monday December 11.

Lia, aged three, was rescued but died in hospital three days later.

Mother, Michelle Pearson, aged 36, recently came out of a coma and was told that her children had died.

Worrall was accused of removing a fence panel from the garden of Michelle Pearson's home and smashing a kitchen window before two lit petrol bombs were tossed inside, at around 5am on December 11 last year.

Flames engulfed the three-bedroom mid-terrace house in Jackson Street, Walkden, Greater Manchester.

Their mother screamed "Not the kids! Not my kids!" before being overcome by the smoke, heat and flames.

She was rescued, severely injured, along with Lia.

Kyle Pearson, who had been feuding with Bolland, managed to escape along with a friend, Bobby Harris, who was also staying at the house.

Read what happened on the fatal night here.

Following the verdict, Dawn Docx, interim chief fire officer, said: "The scene faced by our firefighters when they attended this incident was one of, if not the most horrific and tragic in their careers.

"Experienced crew members with years of service were left completely devastated by what they had to deal with that morning.

"They gave everything they could to save the lives of the young children by rescuing each one from the house but sadly their efforts proved futile.

"Following the incident, firefighters provided reassurance to the local community while our investigators and specialist teams worked in partnership with police officers and crime scene investigators to secure evidence and build up a picture of what happened that night.

"I'm really pleased to see that the joint working between GMFRS and GMP paid off today and justice has been done.

"Our thoughts continue to be with the Pearson family and all those affected by this terrible tragedy."

Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Hughes from GMP’s major incident team, said: “This is one of the most heart breaking cases I have ever dealt with.

“I am glad that the sentences these three have received today reflect their atrocious acts, but nothing can change what has happened and nothing can bring back the children.

“I would like to commend the bravery of the children’s family. I can’t even begin to imagine what they have been through.

“My thoughts will always be with their mother Michelle, along with their father, brothers and wider family and friends.

“They have all shown a phenomenal amount of strength during the most devastating of circumstances.

“When Bolland, Worrall and Brierley planned their attack, they knew that innocent children were asleep in their beds.

“They smashed the kitchen window and threw their handmade petrol bombs inside. The fire spread so quickly and the heat was so intense that the smoke alarms melted before they had chance to sound. This left the family with virtually no chance of escape.

“Understandably the children’s family will still have questions which we will continue to try and answer.

“Michelle Pearson is still in hospital and will be for some time to come. I wish her the very best with her recovery.

“I hope achieving some justice can give her a small amount of peace in these most difficult and tragic circumstances.

“The children’s family should now be given the time to grieve and finally lay the children to rest.”