THE funeral of four children who died when their home was petrol bombed will take place today.

Demi Pearson, aged 15, and her siblings Brandon, aged eight, Lacie, aged seven, and Lia, aged three died after a fire was started at their home in Jackson Street, Walkden on December 11.

The children's mother Michelle is still recovering in hospital and was expected to attend the funeral but yesterday family members revealed on social media that due to "unforeseen medical circumstances" she would not be attending the funeral.

The funeral starts in the street where the children were targeted at 10am and a funeral procession will go from their to Bridgewater Primary School in Bridgewater Street where Lacie and Brandon were pupils. A minute's silence will be observed outside the school.

The procession will then move along Manchester Road East to St Paul's Church where the service will take place.

Members of the public are invited to walk behind the coffins and hundreds are expected to line the streets and pay their respects to the four children.

Zak Bolland, 23, of Blackleach Drive, Walkden and David Worrall, aged 25, of Worsley Avenue, Walkden were both found guilty of murder in May.

Courtney Brierley, aged 20, of Worsley Avenue, Walkden was found guilty of manslaughter.

Demi, Brandon and Lacie died in the fire which was started in their kitchen and little Lia died three days later in hospital.

Their brother Kyle and his friend Bobby Harris who had been staying over both escaped the flames.