Timeline of events leading up to tragic Walkden house fire

Demi, Brandon, Lacie and Lea Pearson died as a result of the fire Credit: ITV Granada Reports

The death of four children was the culmination of a series of tit-for-tat attacks during the "petty" feud between Zak Bolland and Kyle Pearson over a three-week period late last year.

Here are the key events:

  • November 25: Zak Bolland's Peugeot car is set on fire. He claims his house on Blackleach Drive, Walkden was also targeted with petrol, but he put out the flames and blames Kyle Pearson. He demands money for the damage, texting Michelle Pearson: "Fire letter box I want my #500."

  • November 26: Around 9am, Bolland uses a hammer to smash the front windows and panes of glass in the front door of Mrs Pearson's home at 8 Jackson Street, and she calls police.

  • Later that day Kyle Pearson, his brother Lewis, and friends Bobby Harris and Luke Fleming - all armed with clubs and hammers - smash windows at Bolland's mother's home. Bolland, Brierley and his brothers clash with the Pearsons in the street.

  • Police attend Mrs Pearson's home in the evening after Bolland sends a text to Kyle threatening to petrol bomb the house.

  • November 28: The fire service attends to fit a letter box cover to 8 Jackson Street, to prevent accelerants being poured inside and set alight.

  • December 1: Bolland and Brierley go to the Pearson house, taunting Mrs Pearson that Bolland had been "NFA'd" - escaped police action for breaking her windows and he makes further threats. She calls the police, gives a statement and asks for a restraining order against Bolland.

  • December 9: Shortly before 6am, Mrs Pearson's wheelie bin is set on fire and "Grass" spray painted on her house by Bolland. Police attend and she names Bolland as the likely culprit.

  • December 10: Bolland and Brierley are joined by David Worrall and others in the evening, buying two cases of Budweiser from a local shop at 10.27pm.

  • December 11: At 12.40am Bolland, Worrall and two others go to Jackson Street "kicking off", bashing the door and Worrall threatening to "Kill 'em all" before returning to Bolland's house.

  • Police attend and take statement from Mrs Pearson, who wants Bolland arrested, before the officers leave 90 minutes later.

  • 3:30am: Bolland, Brierley and Worrall buy a case of Stella lager and a bottle of wine from a local garage and return home to Bolland's house.

  • 4.33am: Bolland and Worrall pay #1.50 for 1.23 litres of unleaded petrol from a local garage, put in a green petrol can.

  • 4.54am: Bolland and Worral lift a garden fence panel at the back of 8 Jackson Street. Seconds later the flares of two petrol bombs are caught on a local CCTV camera.

  • 5.04am: The first of three fire engines arrive and enter the house, which is already well ablaze, to rescue the occupants.

  • 5.47am: Brandon Pearson declared dead in hospital.

  • 6.02am: Lacie Pearson declared dead in hospital.

  • 7.10am: Demi Pearson declared dead at the scene.

  • 5.56pm: Bolland and Brierley arrested by police.

  • December 12: Worrall arrested.

  • December 13: Life support turned off at 2.30pm for Lia Pearson, aged three.