A Bexley author has dedicated his newly-released spy thriller to the a victim of the 2018 Salisbury novichok poisoinings.

March 4 marks the second anniversary of incident, which claimed the life of 44-year-old British mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess.

Her parents have spoken of how they feel “abandoned” by the British Government, sharing their frustations with Tony Bassett, whose novel The Lazarus Charter, was inspired by events in Salisbury in 2018.

Dawn’s father, retired builder Stan Sturgess, said: “We’ve had no contact from the Government at all and nothing from our MP. We’ve been left very much on our own.”

Dawn died at Salisbury District Hospital eight days after coming into contact with novichok.

Police believe it was the same kind of nerve agent that had been used in the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury on March 4.

Mr Sturgess, speaking from his home in nearby Durrington, said : “Our anguish goes on. Obviously, we feel abandoned. We’ve heard nothing.”

He explained the long process of arranging and holding an inquest was taking its toll on the family.

“Apart from the lack of interest from the Government, the date of the inquest into Dawn’s death keeps getting put off,” he said.

“This is partly because the family have challenged the scope of the inquest, but all the same it adds to our ordeal.”

In the Queen’s speech in December, it was revealed the Government is considering the registration of foreign agents, revising the Official Secrets Act and updating the treason laws.

“We obviously support these measures but just wish the government would get on with it,” Mr Sturgess added.

The couple said they were pleased that Tony’s book, The Lazarus Charter, has been dedicated to Dawn.

Caroline Sturgess, Dawn’s mother, said: “We are so grateful that Tony got in touch with us and told us about his book. We both hope it is well received by the public. What a lovely gesture to dedicate the book to Dawn.”

Her husband added that the couple were currently helping the BBC who are in the final stages of producing a drama about their daughter’s death, starring Anne-Marie Duff, Rafe Spall and Mark Addy.

He said: ‘I’ve begun to read the book and I’ve been impressed by what I’ve read so far.’

Tony, a former Fleet Street journalist, began writing novels in 2015. His first book, Smile Of The Stowaway, was published in December 2018.

The Lazarus Charter is published through The Conrad Press and concerns a couple targeted by a team of Russian agents who use a variety of poisons to kill their victims.

Dawn’s death is referred to in the novel.