The parents who forgave the gang of youths who murdered their son in an Ewell street are releasing a new book in Wallington.

Ray and Vi Donovan will be selling and signing their new book, ‘Restored and Forgiven’, at the Oasis book shop in Woodcote Road on April 6.

It retells the tragic story from when the doorbell rang to why they wanted to meet the people who killed their 18-year-old son, Chris.

He was on a night out, together with his brother Phillip, when he was beaten unconscious and left for dead in the path of oncoming traffic back in 2001.

The gang of youths took turns taking “penalty kicks” at his head and body during the vicious assault nearly 20 years ago.

While three of the 14 gang members who fatally injured Chris were convicted of his murder a year later, the Donovans were forced to move home because of a graffiti campaign supporting one of the killers.

But Ray and Vi decided to forgive them for their actions, despite having lost their son to a brutal attack that killed him.

The couple have since been awarded MBEs for their services to restorative justice and continue to campaign in memory of their late son.

A poster for the new book reads: “When Ray and Vi Donovan were awoken in the early hours of the morning to the horrific news that their two sons had been attacked by a gang while returning home that night, they felt as though their world had ended.

“The couple discovered that one of their sons, Christopher, was fighting for his life. He later died from the injuries he sustained in the brutal attack.

“The Donovans would have been forgiven for holding onto the anger they felt at the perpetrators forever.

“Ray and Vi found it in their hearts to forgive their son’s killers.”

Their book signing will take place at the Oasis Book Shop, in Woodcote Road, Wallington, from 11am to 4pm on April 6.

The books will be sold for £8 each and all profits from sales will go towards the Chris Donovan Trust.

To see the website, click here.