FIVE people have been arrested - four on suspicion of murder - after three children died in a house fire. 

A 23-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were arrested this evening on suspicion of murder.

Two further men aged 18 and 20 have also been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The three children killed in the devastating fire have also been named locally as siblings 14-year-old Demi Pearson, eight-year-old Brandon Pearson and seven-year-old Lacie Pearson.

Their mother, Michelle Pearson, is in a serious condition in hospital and their three-year-old sister is in a critical condition.

The Bolton News:

Flowers at the scene and Brandon, Lacie and Demi Pearson

Their 16-year-old brother and a friend managed to escape the fire.
Floral tributes have been left at the scene where a community is in shock over what happened.

Five people were arrested yesterday, four on suspicion of murder and one on suspicion of assisting an offender, in connection with the fire.
Police launched a murder investigation and are treating the fire as arson.

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A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Police made the arrests after launching an investigating following the fire at a house in Jackson Street, Walkden, just before 5am.

An eight-year-old boy and two girls, aged seven and 14, died in the fire despite the efforts of the emergency services A three-year-old girl remains in a critical condition and a 35-year-old woman remains in a serious condition, both in hospital.

Two 16-year-old boys were able to escape the property.

It has been reported that the family was 'living under threat' before the fire.

Security measures were put in place at the house, including the fitting of a device to the property's letterbox.

The arrangements, known as target hardening, are generally used to strengthen a building to protect it in the event of the attack.

It is thought the culprit may have climbed up scaffolding outside the property to pour fuel down the chimney.

This afternoon fire investigators were using an aerial appliance to examine the scaffolding. 

Chief Superintendent Wayne Miller, Territorial Commander for Salford, said: “In what is such a heart-breaking set of circumstances, we have been doing our very best to support the family in every way that we can and carry out our enquiries quickly and sensitively.

“This evening, two people are in custody but we are still appealing for people who witnessed the fire itself or the events leading up to it to get in contact with us and tell us what they know.

“My thanks goes to the members of the public who have supported us with our investigation.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 8797 alternatively call 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.