The parents of a teenager murdered by a gang of youths told how they have forgiven their son's killers.

Christopher Donovan was just 18 years old when he was beaten unconscious and left lying in the path of oncoming traffic in Ewell. A gang of youths took it in turns to take "penalty kicks" at his head and body during the attack in May 2001.

Ray Donovan, 59, who lives in Sutton, said: “Chris was with his brother Philip and a friend when they saw a gang of 14 youths coming towards them.

“Philip went through the gang first. They attacked him for no reason and Chris went to help.

“They left Chris in the road and a car came over the hill - the driver said she thought it was a bundle of rags. Christopher's belt got caught on the exhaust and he was dragged 40ft.”

Three youths were convicted of Christopher's murder in May 2002. Following the convictions, the Donovan's were forced to move home because of a graffiti campaign in support of one of the killers.

They also had to endure an unsuccessful appeal by two of the killers.

But the couple who are Christians, said they have forgiven their son's killers.

Mr Donovan said he made the decision to forgive the night he returned from the hospital, but it took his wife, Violet, longer.

He said: “Vi smashed the whole kitchen up. It took her a year to reach the point where she could forgive them.

“But even though we have forgiven, when we go to the grave we get angry again.”

Mr and Mrs Donovan now devote much of their time to visiting schools and prisons to talk about gang violence and forgiveness. They are also involved with the Sycamore Tree programme which teaches victim awareness to prisoners.

Mr Donovan said: “It has completely changed our lives.

“I always say that forgiveness is not an emotion, it is a choice you make every day.

“I'm not going to live in bitterness. They took my son's life but they are not going to take mine.”

Mr and Mrs Donovan will speak at the Party in Park on Saturday, July 31. Party in the Park takes place between 10.30am and 4.30pm on the playing field opposite the Pheonix Centre in Mollison Drive on the Roundshaw estate in Wallington.