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THE family of a seven-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run say they "forgive" the driver as they made a heartbreaking public statement.

Little William Brown was crossing the road to collect a football when he was struck in Folkestone, Kent, on Wednesday.

William Brown Jr's parents Laura and William Sr broke down as they demanded the driver come forward
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William Brown Jr's parents Laura and William Sr broke down as they demanded the driver come forwardCredit: BBC/UNPIXS
Little William was crossing the road to collect a football in Folkestone on Wednesday when he was killed
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Little William was crossing the road to collect a football in Folkestone on Wednesday when he was killedCredit: SWNS

As his distraught parents made a heartbreaking appeal for information, cops arrested a 49-year-old from the Dymchurch area on Thursday afternoon.

Breaking down as she , mum Laura Brown said William was left to die "in the middle of the road" in his Ronaldo shirt.

She added: ";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."

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Dad William Brown Snr added: "Come forward so Will gets his peace and we'll know what happened and we can bury our son in peace.

"We're not on some kind of hate thing trying to find out who done it.

"And whoever that is who done that, come on mate, come forward, man yourself up."

The 5.35pm crash on the A259 Sandgate Esplanade involved an unidentified car or van and a red Citroen car, Kent Police say.

The unidentified vehicle left the scene in the direction of Hythe before emergency services could get there, cops added.

William was pronounced dead at the scene.

Any witnesses or those with CCTV or dashcam footage are being asked to contact police on 1622 798538, quoting reference MM/DGC/130/23.

On Thursday, William Snr posted a heart-rending video addressing the driver responsible.

Behind him were teddy bears and a neon sign bearing William's name.

Holding up his son's green football shirt inside the lad's bedroom, he said: "We already forgive you."

Speaking to The Mirror, mum Laura said 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.

Speaking to The Mirror, mum Laura said her son loved taxidermy
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Speaking to The Mirror, mum Laura said her son loved taxidermyCredit: Brown family
Cops say they arrested a 49-year-old from the Dymchurch area on Thursday afternoon
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Cops say they arrested a 49-year-old from the Dymchurch area on Thursday afternoonCredit: Facebook
On Thursday, William Snr posted a heart-rending video addressing the driver responsible
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On Thursday, William Snr posted a heart-rending video addressing the driver responsible
William was 'the sweetest boy in the world' his mother Laura said
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William was 'the sweetest boy in the world' his mother Laura saidCredit: Brown family
Dad William Sr said the family 'already forgive' the driver as he urged them to come forward
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Dad William Sr said the family 'already forgive' the driver as he urged them to come forwardCredit: Brown family
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