The father of a murdered boy whose remains were found near Petersfield is pleading for the unsolved case to be re-opened after new information came to light last year.

Vishal Mehrotra and his family had been to watch the royal wedding between Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer on July 29, 1981, and on their way home to Putney he disappeared.

Last year it came to light a convicted paedophile wrote a report in 1983 about caring for Asian children in the UK that he titled ‘Visha.’

Now his father Vishambar has said his son’s murder must be re-investigated after labelling the information obtained by the BBC a “major revelation.”

On February 25, 1982, Vishal’s skull, seven rib bones and vertebrae were found by pigeon shooters in Alder Copse between Durliegh Marsh Farm and the Sheet junction of the A272.

One of the last people thought to see Vishal was Liss artist Rita Greer who, in 1981, was living in Putney. Police later agreed it was highly likely her’s was the last confirmed sighting of the boy.

She believes she saw the eight-year-old in the street outside a factory she was leaving.

After the discovery of the remains, a witness said he had seen a suspicious car parked on the A272 near to the copse, and another reported seeing a tall man with an Asian boy near Treyford, about three miles from Rogate. He was wearing a khaki hat and jacket. Neither he nor the driver were ever identified.

Sussex Police said they would not disclose details of fresh information considered in 2019 but said their inquiries in relation to it were thorough.

A spokesman said: “The case remains unresolved and like all such cases is subject of regular assessment every two years to see if there are any potential new lines of inquiry.

“Even after nearly 40 years, we will continue to take any opportunity to pursue any new lines of inquiry that might lead to justice being obtained for Vishal and his family.”