Grief, shock, anger and despair were just some of the emotions that met the horrific arson attack in Walkden this week, which saw the murder of four brothers and sisters, aged between three and 14.
Salford community leaders have echoed the sentiments of residents, with head teachers of two of the schools the children attended issuing statements...
"We are all shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic events" said Emma Henderson, head teacher at Bridgewater Primary school "Our school is very much part of this special community and understands the intense pain experienced at this senseless loss of precious life. We are consoling our pupils and their families and send our deepest sympathies and prayers to all those affected."
Drew Povey, head teacher, Harrop Fold school, added: "We are all truly devastated by the loss of precious life that our community has recently suffered. Words seem inadequate in these tragic circumstances.
"In these darkest of times, we unite and support our students and their families. Team Harrop mourns alongside the relatives and friends of those whose lives were needlessly and mercilessly taken from them. The spirit of Salford cannot and will not be crushed. We will work together to comfort and rebuild those lives that have been forever changed."
Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, said "Our thoughts are with the friends and family of those killed and seriously injured in this horrific incident in our city. "We'll continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our communities and police to bring those responsible to justice."
While three people - Zac Bolland, Courtney Brierley and David Worrall - have now been charged with murder and arson, Salford people have come together to try to do what they can to help the family.
A Facebook fundraising page set up by Lisa Hughes and Chloe Rebecca that aimed to raise £4,000 to "help with the cost of giving these children a beautiful send off they deserve", has now brought in almost £12,600 (see here). Meanwhile, JustGiving pages set up by Chloe Redford (see here) and Nicole Skoczypec (see here) have raised almost £5,000 for the family...
"As a friend of family and a member of the local community I have set up this funding page in aid of the family that has been ripped apart on 11/12/17 by a cowardly act of arson which has taken the lives of 4 children aged 3,7,8,14 and left a mother Michelle critically ill in hospital and other son who managed to escape the attack" wrote Nicole on her JustGiving page
"Such a heartbreaking inhumane horrible, horrible tragedy which has happened today which has destroyed a family and killed children..." she added "Please donate something, so little will help towards clothes housing funeral costs ...I have set the target to £2,000 but hoping to exceed this amount. No amount of money can fix this but anything to help at all ... let's pray for Michelle and hope she recovers...RIP to the four little angels that have passed away..."
Meanwhile, Millie-Mae's Embarkment has organised a raffle to raise funds for the Pearson family... "While money will not replace the innocent lives lost we hope to make the future easier for the rest of the family..."
Prizes include a signed Manchester City legends shirt, meals, haircuts, chocolates and even a two hour domestic clean, and tickets priced £1 are available from the Facebook page (click here).
Other activities to help the family include a two hour fundraising horse ride on December 30th, meeting at St Marys Park in Walkden at 10:45am with a £10 donation (for details see here) and Banana Enterprise Network (5 Bridgewater Rd, Walkden M28 3JE - next to Robin Hall Opticians) will be opening its offices on Sunday 17th December between 11am-1pm to accept donations of bedding, gifts, clothing, and household items to help the family.
The horrific events in Walkden have been met with grief, shock, anger and despair...but also the uniting of the community to try to help...
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