FAMILY'S HEARTACHE
Man arrested after William Brown, 7, killed while playing football as mum says ‘I’ll bury him with his Xmas gift’
The driver is said to have left William 'dying in the middle of the road'
A MAN has been arrested after a seven-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run while playing football.
William Brown Jnr died in his Ronaldo kit when a car ploughed into him outside his home in Folkestone, Kent, at 5.30pm on Wednesday.
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His dad, William Brown Snr, today posted an emotional appeal video begging the public to "please help us".
And now cops have revealed they have arrested a 49-year-old man from the Dymchurch area.
It comes after Brown Snr held up his beloved son's green football shirt as he filmed the appeal in his bedroom.
Behind him were teddy bears and a neon sign bearing William's name.
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William Jnr was ";left dying" on the A259 Sandgate Esplanade in Folkestone, Kent, at around 5.35pm on Wednesday.
The fatal collision involved two vehicles, an unidentified car or van and a red Citroen car.
The unidentified vehicle left the scene in the direction of Hythe.
Brown Snr had addressed the driver in the video, saying: "If it was you that done it, William Jnr was a beautiful boy and he believed in forgiveness, love and peace and we already forgive you.
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"If it's you and you're feeling guilty, but we really need to know so we can lay our son in peace and know what happened to him."
Police and ambulance crews attended but William was confirmed dead at the scene.
Laura Brown, William Jnr's mother, broke down as she told the BBC: "He was the sweetest boy in the world, so soft and gentle.
"Please help us find this person. I'm begging you. Do it for William."
She told that her son loved taxidermy and never got to see the stuffed octopus that he was going to get for Christmas.
He will now be buried with it.
She said: "He loved football. He supported Manchester United like his dad. But his favourite player of all time was Ronaldo. He died in his Ronaldo kit.”
Brown Snr told that his son was running to catch a ball.
He said: "My son pretty much died on the road, he was there for 40 minutes," Will said.
"It's a busy road - someone saw something, someone must know something."
Did you see what happened? Contact: [email protected]
William Jnr also leaves behind step-mum Vicky Phillips, and a six-year-old sister, Pearl, with whom he was "the best of friends".
Appealing on Facebook last night, one woman said: "At 5.45pm tonight there was a hit and run in Sandgate Esplanade.
"The police are looking for a silver/grey van and any information on the driver.
"Anyone who has any of the local area please have a look.
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"Any dashcams eyewitness or anyone with any information on the driver."
Anyone who witnessed the collision, or who saw either the victim or vehicles in the moments leading up to it, is urged to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538, quoting reference MM/DGC/130/23.
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