AUTHORITIES are being investigated after it was revealed they had been in contact with a family before it was torn apart when four children were murdered in an arson attack.

Zak Bolland, aged 23, and David Worrall, aged 25, were both jailed for life after killing Demi, Brandon, Lacie and Lia Pearson when they threw two petrol bombs into their house in Jackson Street, Walkden on December 11.

Courtney Brierley, aged 20, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter and was sentenced to 21 years in a young offenders' institute.

During the course of the trial, it was revealed that both police and social services at Salford City Council had been in contact with the family in the weeks leading up to the incident.

It was reported that mother Michelle Pearson, who remains seriously ill in hospital, contacted officers fearing for her family's safety because of a feud between Bolland and her son Kyle Pearson, who survived the fire.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has resumed its investigation and is focussing on contact between officers and the family from November 26 to December 11.

IOPC regional director Amanda Rowe said: "Our thoughts remain with Michelle Pearson as well as her family and friends following their unimaginable loss.

"Our investigation team were at the trial. We’re aware that the information available to Greater Manchester Police and their actions before the fire was presented to the court.

"We will be analysing this contact in detail; to see if their response was appropriate and identify what could be learned from this tragedy.

"Before suspending our investigation we met with members of Michelle Pearson’s family to discuss our work. Although there is potentially a large amount of evidence to consider, we now aim to bring our involvement to a conclusion as soon as possible."

The investigation began shortly after the tragedy but was suspended until the conclusion of the trial.

It was also revealed that Salford City Council's safeguarding board had begun a "serious case review" to look at all its interactions with the family.

Cllr David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety at Salford City Council, said: “We are aware of issues raised both before and during the trial about how all the various agencies, including the council, interacted with the Pearson family.

"Salford Children’s Safeguarding Board has begun a serious case review which will look at all interactions with the family. Salford City Council will co-operate fully with that investigation.

"There are also further investigations by the coroner’s court and the Independent Police Complaints Commission and until all those investigations are concluded and the findings published, we cannot comment further.”