A MUM left in a coma following a blaze at her home that killed her four kids is now awake and has been told of their deaths.

Michelle Pearson lost 15-year-old daughter Demi, her brother Brandon, eight, and sisters Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, in the inferno at her home in Walkden, Greater Manchester, in December.

The 35-year-old has been recovering in hospital ever since, but it is only in the last fortnight that doctors were able to explain the devastating news.

The Sun understands she is now lucid and eating and drinking from her hospital bed.

Couple Zac Bolland, 23, and Courtney Brierly, 20, along with David Worrall, 25, are accused of three counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.

Their trial begins on Monday.

Bolland was arrested just 300 yards from the scene of the blaze.

Fire investigators believe the property was targeted via three entry points - the chimney, front door and a ground floor window.

Traces of petrol are believed to have been found at all three points and it is thought the entry points were doused in fuel before the house was torched.

Neighbours told The Sun a mob started the fire before racing to a nearby house to watch the blaze from a window.

Following the tragedy it emerged that the Pearson family had been living under threat, sources have confirmed.

Security measures were put in place at the mid-terrace home, 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 an attack.

GMP confirmed there had been "earlier incidents" at the address - including one 24 hours before the attack.

The case was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Police and fire crews were called to the blaze shortly before 5am on December 11 last year.

Demi, 15, was pronounced dead at the scene and young siblings Brandon and Lucie died later in hospital.

Two 16-year-old boys managed to escape the flames by jumping out of a window.