The two hour dramatisation, which starts on the night the 18-year-old A-level student was murdered by a gang of white youths in Eltham, south London, in April 1993.

It continues the story until the start of last year's public inquiry into the police investigation of the murder, for which no one has been convicted.

Produced by Granada Television, The Murder Of Stephen Lawrence stars Secrets and Lies actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Stephen's mother, Doreen, and Hugh Quarshie as his father, Neville.

Producer Mark Redhead said: "We are trying to show what the Lawrences went through which, understandably, may have got lost in the court cases and all the publicity.

'Fair, accurate and restrained'

Stephen Lawrence: Murdered at a south London bus stop in April 1993

"It's fair, accurate, and restrained, The programme is based on our own research and interviews, as well as on us going down to the inquiry."

The show - to be screened at 2100 GMT on 18 February - follows the West End opening of a dramatisation of events at Sir William Macpherson's inquiry.

The Colour of Justice opens at the Victoria Palace Theatre on 15 Feburary, after public demand prompted it to move from north London's small Tricycle Theatre.