THE family of six children who died in a house fire have said their "angels can rest in peace" after their parents were convicted of their killing.

Mick and Mairead Philpott were found guilty by jurors amid emotional scenes at Nottingham Crown Court of the manslaughter of the six siblings in the blaze at the family home in Victory Road, Derby, on May 11 last year.

A third defendant, 46-year-old Paul Mosley, was also found guilty of manslaughter following an eight-week trial.

Philpott, 56, and his 32-year-old wife, and Mosley, started the fire in the house in a bid to frame Lisa Willis, the former girlfriend of Philpott, prosecutors said.

Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, five, and Duwayne, 13, all died as a result of the petrol-fuelled blaze that tore through their three-bed council house.

There were emotional scenes in the packed public gallery at court as jurors delivered their guilty verdicts.

Many sobbed and hugged one another while Mrs Philpott's sister, Bernadette Duffy, shouted out: "You murdering b*******".

Speaking afterwards, the families of both the Philpotts welcomed the verdicts.

Dawn Bestwick, Mick Philpott's sister, said in a statement they believed justice had been served.

Describing the past year as a very difficult time, she added: "We can now attempt to move on and our six angels can rest in peace."

A statement from Mrs Philpott's family said: "We, Mairead's family, cannot describe the pain we feel. Today, justice has been served and we are happy with the verdict."

During the trial the court heard details of how Philpott – who showed little emotion as he was convicted of the children's killing – led an unconventional life.

He shared a bed with his wife and Miss Willis on alternate nights, and both were said to have lived happily with this and one another for a decade.

However, Miss Willis, 29, became unhappy with the domestic set-up three months before the fire and left with her five children, four of whom were fathered by Philpott, from the home she had shared with the Philpotts and their six children.

The fatal blaze engulfed the house at around 3.45am on May 11, just hours before Philpott, who was father to a total of 17 children by five different women, and Miss Willis were due to appear at a pre-scheduled court hearing to discuss residency of their children.

Philpott was described in court as the prime mover and dominant player in the fire plot.

He preyed on young and damaged women from troubled backgrounds, who had few family or friends around for support.

Mairead Philpott, who was connected to the travelling community, was a 19-year-old single mother who was at "rock bottom" when they met.

She was abused as a child, forced out of school by bullies and raped in her teenage years.

She then fell into an abusive relationship during which her boyfriend shaved her hair off to stop her going out. The father of her first child left her when she told him she was pregnant with Duwayne, when she was 16.

When Philpott came into her life, he seemed to offer the prospect of happiness and stability. She had told the jury: "He was my guardian angel.

"He loved me and cared for me and made me feel safe."

Derbyshire Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said: "This has to be one of, if not the most upsetting cases any of us has ever investigated.

"This is a shocking case for everyone involved. Six young children lost their lives needlessly in a fire and all our efforts have been focused on getting justice for those children.

"My thoughts at this time are very much for the friends and relations of the children who have been affected by the events on Victory Road on May 11 last year."