THE Prime Minister wants to see Ashya King reunited with his parents.

David Cameron said he wanted to see the five-year-old, who suffers from a brain tumour, back in the care of Brett and Naghmeh King and that seeing pictures of Ashya brought back memories of his son Ivan who died in February 2009.

He said: "Watching the pictures of him brought back memories of my desperately ill young boy Ivan and I remember him endlessly sitting on my lap and having to feed him through a tube and having to deal with all of the difficulties of having a desperately ill child.

Daily Echo:

Ashya and mother Naghmeh

"But the Government musn't tell the police how to act or what to do nor can we interfere in the processes of other countries.

"I just hope there is a rapid outbreak of common sense so the family can be reunited with this young boy and the best treatment can be given to him either in the UK or elsewhere."

He added that the health secretary is doing his bit to make sure the Government examines how our procedures work in the UK.

Mr Cameron's comments come as a hearing at the High Court has got underway to consider whether Ashya should remain a ward of the court.

In court Lucinda Davis for Portsmouth Council said the hospital in Spain where Ashya was being treated could transfer him back to hospital in England. It also said the hospital could provide chemotherapy in Spain.

She said the issue was whether Ashya should receive proton beam treatment.

Ms Davis said the council wanted what was best for Ashya and wanted the High Court to consider the options.

But she said Ashya's parents would need to feature in any court hearing and could not do so when they were under arrest.

Vikram Sachdeva, for Southampton General Hospital, said the hospital was proposing a course of chemotherapy, but not proton beam treatment. He said that could not be provided in England - although it is the favoured option of Ashya's parents.

If that wardship is overturned, Brett and Naghmeh will retain full control over the treatment of their son.

The High Court judge this afternoon has been told the CPS is seeking to withdraw the arrest warrant for Ashya's parents.

Lawyers representing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Portsmouth City Council told Mr Justice Baker of the plan at the start of a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

Mr Justice Baker said the council had asked a judge to make Ashya a ward of court last week and to give directions about his medical treatment.

He was told it was unlikely the court would get "clarity" today on when the arrest warrant could be lifted.

Another hearing is due to take place on Monday, in which Mr Justice Baker said he hoped the little boy's parents would be able to take part.

Hampshire's Chief Constable has added his voice to calls for the parents of five year old Ashya King to be reunited with their desperately ill son.

In an open letter to his colleagues in the Crown Prosecution Service, Home Office and Commonwealth Office, Andy March says he believes the current situation is “not right” and every effort should be made to enable Ashya's family to be by his side.

Daily Echo: Chief constable Andy Marsh

Hampshire Police chief constable Andy Marsh

Brett and Naghmeh King, who were arrested in Spain after Ashya was taken from Southampton General Hospital without doctors' consent, have spent a second night away from him.

A judge in Madrid ruled that they must be held for up to 72 hours while the court considers whether to grant a British extradition request.

In the letter Mr Marsh reiterated this the force was making no apology for being “proactive” in launching the high profile search for Ashya but said since he had been found, the situation had changed.

“The situation today is different. Since they have been found, Ashya has been taken to a
hospital and is receiving medical care and Ashya's family have released information into the
public domain that they did not choose to make available during the search period.

“It is my view as Chief Constable that the situation today is not right. Irrespective of what has
happened it is our view that Ashya needs both medical treatment and for his parents to be
at his side. Our intent was to secure his safety not to deny him family support at this
particularly challenging time in his life.

“As you will be aware, Ashya's parents opposed extradition and are in custody in Spain,
where they could potentially remain for some time. I have no jurisdiction on what happens to
them, their rights of access, the arrest warrant or the care order.

"It is my view that we need to stand back and ask the question; what can be done quickly to achieve the best for
Ashya?

“This needs to be the right balance between ensuring that he continues to get the
best medical care and to enable his family to be with him at what must be a very difficult and
scary time for a little boy who, potentially, has limited time.

“If there is anything that I can do to help make this happen, I will work with you to do that.”

Spain's state prosecutor is to request the release of Ashya's parents.

The couple are due to appear in court in Madrid at 11am Spanish time tomorrow to find out whether they will be released while the judge considers the possibility of extradition.

Meanwhile Ashya's older brother Naveed has recorded another video to thank everyone who has supported the family - particularly Ethan Dallas who helped organise a petition of 125,000 signatures begging Mr Cameron to intervene.

In the video, he said: "I would just like to thank everyone who has helped in the progress to get my parents back with Ashya.

"So many people are spending so many hours on social media spreading the word and I would like to say thank you to Ethan Dallas and his family who are doing so much right now to spread the word to sign petitions and where to go to help Ashya out personally."

For more on the Daily Echo's coverage of Ashya, see below.