A mum who died 20 months after a petrol bomb attack killed her four children is being laid to rest today next to her 'little angels'.
Hundreds lined the streets to pay a final farewell to Michelle Pearson, 37, who never left hospital due to the severity of her horrific burns and tragically succumbed to her injuries on August 25.
Just after 11am, she was pulled in a black carriage by four black horses past the family home where the murderous arson attack took place in 2017.
Grieving mourners wiped away tears as the procession - which included a bagpipe band - made its way down Jackson Street in the Walkden area of Salford, Greater Manchester, before heading to the church.
And in a heartbreaking tribute, the mum-of-six's carriage was followed by four white ones carrying flowers to represent each of her children who died.
Demi Pearson, 15, her brother, Brandon, aged eight, and sisters, Lacie, seven and Lia, aged three, all perished in the petrol-bomb attack which turned their home into an inferno in the early hours of December 11, 2017.
Three of the youngsters died at the scene, while little Lia died in hospital. Michelle was put into an induced coma suffering 75 per cent burns.
She was too unwell to attend the joint funeral of her four children in September last year, but hundreds of people lined the route and packed the church as the four little coffins were carried inside.
Announcing Michelle's death last month, her mother Sandra Lever said she had gone "to join her babies."
Michelle's funeral is being held at the same church, and the family have thanked the community for their support.
There will be a private ceremony and burial for family afterwards.
Michelle's order of service shows six photos of her in happier times, pulling silly faces, laughing while holding a drink and smiling as she poses for the camera.
Two white butterflies have also been delicately placed on the front page. Her personalised white coffin has been adorned with poppies.
The carriages also contained white and red floral tributes spelling the words 'Shell', 'sister', 'daughter' and 'auntie'.
Michelle's loved ones said the trauma, strong medication, and injuries meant she kept forgetting her children were dead and would ask relatives to bring them to the burns unit to visit her.
Three people were convicted over the blaze, which was the result of a "petty feud".
Zak Bolland and David Worrall were each convicted of four counts of murder and jailed for life, with minimum terms of 40 and 37 years respectively.
Bolland's ex-girlfriend, Courtney Brierley, was jailed for 21 years for manslaughter.
As we previously reported, police confirmed they would review the original investigation and charges following Michelle's death.
They said they would consult with the Crown Prosecution Service to determine whether the petrol bombers should face a fresh murder charge.
Meanwhile, during the court case, harrowing details emerged about the final moments of the children as the fire took hold of the property.
Frantic mother Michelle scooped her youngest daughter Lia up in her arms and ran through their smoke-filled burning home in a final act of desperation to save her life.
She raced out of her bedroom and navigated her way through the pitch-black while clutching the three-year-old as deadly flames raged downstairs.
She had grabbed the snoozing youngster from her bed before making a beeline for the bathroom where there was a window they may be able to escape from.
However, Michelle's final act of desperation would sadly be in vain.
She collapsed before she could save her baby girl after being overcome by the smoke, heat and flames.
A neighbour had heard her scream "Not the kids! Not my kids!"
Michelle was discovered on the bathroom floor by firefighters, while Lia, last to be found, was lying in the bath.
The little girl tragically died in hospital two days later.
In one harrowing photo, a charred tub could be seen in the Pearson family's bathroom, surrounded by a burnt sink and bits of debris.
Lia's siblings all died at the scene of the fire two weeks before Christmas. They had been sleeping in a large front bedroom.
Brandon was found lying face down with his head towards the landing as if he had been trying to crawl out of the room.
Lacie was on the floor with her head towards her brother as if she had been following him.
Demi was found on the bottom bunk bed, her feet on the floor with her hands stretched out to the open window.
It looked like she may have directed her younger siblings to open the door and she had then tried to open the window, a court heard.
The tragedy had unfolded just before 5am as a dusting of frost settled on Jackson Street, in Walkden, on a cold December morning.
Mum Michelle lay fast asleep oblivious that her life was about to be destroyed forever. Her children were all safely tucked up in bed, dozing away ahead of the start of a new day.
But in the shadows outside the modest semi-detached Salford house lurked 'monsters' about to leave a trail of destruction and kill four innocent children over a 'petty feud'.
Zac Bolland and Courtney Brierley had weeks earlier taunted Michelle in the street and called her a 'grass' because she complained to the police after Bolland smashed her front windows with a hammer.
In an exchange of texts, he also threatened to set fire to Michelle's home and referenced petrol bombs.
Michelle reported the incident to police and the fire service took steps to secure the letter box at her house.
About a week later, Bolland, who was drunk and is thought to have taken cocaine, was at home with Brierley. He left the house equipped with a spray paint can and sprayed “grass” on the front wall of Michelle’s home.
When the paint can ran out, he set fire to a wheelie bin in the front garden.
These series of "tit-for-tat attacks" with another of Michelle's sons would end in devastating consequences.
Hours before the fatal arson attack, Bolland and Brierley were joined by David Worrall, who arrived with two other men, and spent the evening drinking and taking cocaine.
At around 12.30am, Bolland and Worrall - armed with an iron bar - and the other two men walked the short distance to the home of Michelle.
The mum came to an upstairs window and Bolland and Worrall demanded that the older Pearson son come outside as 'they wanted a fight.'
Michelle denied he was there and Worrall smashed a window in the front door and threw the bar in Michelle’s direction.
The men then left and went back to Bolland's house.
Michelle called the police who arrived to take a statement and then left.
However, Michelle's son was concerned that the gang would return and break into the house, so set up a barricade of the front door, a court heard.
Bolland, Worrall and Brierley continued drinking and all took cocaine. The two men became aggressive and hyped up and came up with their sick arson plot.
Bolland armed himself with a machete and Worrall an axe. They got a petrol can which they filled with £1.50 worth of fuel and wore hoods to disguise themselves.
They then made two petrol bombs using a large clear bottle and a smaller beer bottle.
The sick pair then returned to Michelle's house where they smashed windows and threw the petrol bombs inside. They exploded and set the house ablaze.
They then fled and left the house to burn with Michelle and her sleeping children inside.
Mr Justice William Davies described the fire in his sentencing remarks on May 24, 2018 as "swift and deadly".
The home has since become a shrine to the family with banners, flowers and candles left outside.
