EXCLUSIVE Parents of seven-year-old boy killed in hit and run ask the Church of England to let him be buried in graveyard where he played every day after school

The parents of a seven-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run want have asked the Church of England to let him be buried in the graveyard where he played every day after school.

William Brown was wearing his beloved Cristiano Ronaldo kit when was knocked down by a car outside his home in Folkestone, Kent on Wednesday evening, after jumping over the wall to fetch his ball.

His devastated parents Laura and William Brown have pleaded with the driver to hand themselves in as police have arrested a 49-year-old man.

Now they have asked for their son to be buried in the ancient graveyard of St Eanswythe’s Church of England School where he was a pupil, as he had spent so many happy times there.

The local council said it will look into the request to see if William’s parents ‘wish can be met’. 

William Brown was playing with friends in his beloved Cristiano Ronaldo kit when he went to collect his ball and was knocked down by a car on Sandgate Esplanade in Folkestone, Kent

William’s devastated parents Laura and William Brown have asked the Church of England to let him be buried in the graveyard where he played every day after school

Cuddly toys, a signed football, flowers and candles are left at the scene where William died

Fighting back tears as she spoke to MailOnline from the family home, Laura said: ‘We are appealing to the Church of England to let us lay William to rest in the graveyard at St Eanswythe’s Church because it was a place that he loved.

‘He went there every day after school to pick wild garlic, collecting conkers and pinecones, or just digging with a stick.

‘If he were laid to rest there, he will be amongst the heart of the community that he loved. ‘He would be among his school friends and we his parents could visit him every day and so could his little sister Pearl who still goes to the school.’

His father William senior, 34, a builder, added: ‘I know this is where Will would have wanted to be buried. This would have been his wish.’

Mum Laura, 41, a beauty therapist, told how her son had been brought up a Christian.

She said: ‘William was baptised, he went to a church school and he attended every religious ceremony at St Eanswythe’s Church, so it is only right that he is buried in the graveyard.’

Situated close to the cliffs overlooking the Channel, parts of the church date back to the 13th Century.

However, the last recorded burial at the ancient church was in the Victoria era, at around 1860.

William was playing with friends while his mother made him his dinner when he was mowed down

A well-wisher lays flowers at the scene in Sandgate, Kent, where William died

Flowers line up against the wall where William was hit by a car in Kent

Emergency services at the scene of the hit-and-run on Sandgate Esplanade in Folkestone

MailOnline understands that the church vicar, Father John Walker, has no objection in principle to allowing the burial to take place.

But only the local council can give authorisation for a burial to take place at this ancient graveyard, it is believed.

Paying tribute to her son, Laura added: ‘William was the sweetest, kindest and funniest boy. He was an amazing friend to his friends. He loved animals, history facts, nature and digging. He loved fossils and dinosaurs. Anything weird and wonderful.

‘He loved curiosities and oddities. He loved taxidermy. He had shark’s teeth and spiders, snake skins. He was a very unusual boy.

‘For Christmas he wanted an octopus, so I got him a taxidermy one. He didn’t get to see it, it’s still wrapped. I’m going to put it in his coffin.

‘He was just always in Will’s world. He was too kind for this world.

‘If there was a question to ask he had to ask it. He needed to know the answers to everything.

‘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.’

A Folkestone & Hythe District Council spokesperson said: ‘We extend our deepest condolences to William’s family and our thoughts are with them at this very sad time.

‘St Eanswythe’s is a closed churchyard and no burials have taken place there for many years. We are not aware that there is any space available. We will, however, look into this for William’s parents and see if their wish could be met.’

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