The parents of a seven-year-old boy killed in a suspected hit-and-run want to share their son’s message of love and forgiveness with “everyone” as his funeral is streamed live tomorrow.

William Brown Jr will be laid to rest at The Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe in Folkestone after special permission was granted by His Majesty the King.

The service - set to start at 2pm - will be shown live on KentOnline, with screens also put up outside the church so mourners can watch the proceedings.

William died on December 6 after he was struck by a vehicle near his home on Sandgate Esplanade while fetching a football from the road.

His father, William Brown Sr, says the family want to livestream the service as his son "would have invited everyone to his funeral”.

“It’s really important to us that we do Will proud and we get his message across," Mr Brown Sr said.

“I feel that with a good send-off, with everyone coming together, he will be looking down on us and be really proud.

“He’s only seven but for him to have had an impact and spread good values of love and togetherness and forgiveness is important to us.

“Will would definitely have invited everyone.”

Will’s coffin will be carried to The Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe, which has a capacity of 400, by a horse and carriage bearing the colours of his beloved Manchester United.

His family campaigned to hold the burial at the historic graveyard as it has been shut since 1855, with only the monarch able to overturn a closure order issued by the Privy Council.

On Christmas Day, William’s mum, Laura, travelled four hours to Sandringham – where the Royal family attended a church service – carrying a personal letter to King Charles to ask for his help. The letter was handed to security staff.

Just five days later, King Charles and members of the Privy Council revealed they would lift the order to support William’s family’s wishes.

Mr Brown Sr added: “Maybe you make new friends at the funeral, or maybe you can reach out to someone.

“Hug someone and show some love. Maybe you may see a neighbour there and you can build a new relationship.

“That's what Will would want. So please make sure you attend. It’s really appreciated.”

A procession will start near William’s dad’s house in Sapper Row, before travelling along Sandgate Esplanade, where his mum lives, and into Folkestone.

Remembering his young son, Mr Brown Sr added: “Will was loving and caring and he accepted everyone.

“There's stories of him playing football and people being left out and he'd go and get them.

“He'd unite everyone because he had that warm heart and loved bringing people together.

“Will would never make a big issue or a big scene out of anything. He'd just forgive, forget and move on.”

A 49-year-old man was arrested in Dymchurch almost 24 hours after William’s death.

He was questioned by detectives on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and perverting the course of justice.

He is on bail until March 6.