Ashya King reunited with parents in hospital

The reunion went ahead despite fears on the part of Ashya’s father Brett that a court order in England might prevent it. Arriving at the hospital, he told Channel 4 News reporter Alex Thomson that he planned to see his son, even if it meant being arrested.

Read more: My bizarre exchange with Ashya King's father

In a statement, councillor Donna Jones, the leader of Portsmouth City Council said “I am deeply concerned that the King family have been through such an ordeal today while visiting Ashya.”

She added “It’s obvious there has been a misunderstanding today”, and said contact was being made with the family to try to discuss the situation.

Earlier Mr King had spoken of the anguish he and his wife endured while locked up in a Spanish prison knowing his son “hasn’t got too many months to live”.

Speaking at a news conference in Seville before going to see Ashya for the first time in four days, Brett King said he had found it difficult to listen to his wife Naghmeh crying while they were in Soto del Real prison near Madrid.

He said: “When we were in prison there wasn’t a minute that went by without our hearts hurting to see Ashya. My wife spent most of the time crying in the cell.

“I was going to ask to move cells because I was worried and I couldn’t listen to my wife crying. When you are locked up you can’t do anything.”

Mr King said they were desperate to see Ashya because he “hasn’t got too many months to live”.

(Police on guard outside the hospital in Malaga where five-year-old Ashya King is currently being treated)

‘Relieved’

Earlier, Ashya’s grandmother said she was “relieved” his parents had been released from prison on Tuesday night, but that authorites in the UK needed to be held to account.

Patricia King said she was told by one of her grandsons last night that her son Brett and daughter-in-law Naghmeh would be set free from prison after British authorities dropped the case against them.

The couple were arrested on Saturday after they took Ashya from Southampton General Hospital last Thursday and travelled to to the Costa del Sol in southern Spain without the consent of doctors.

On their release from prison last night, they said they were “relieved” and “tired” as they prepared to be reunited “as soon as possible” with their son.

Mrs King said she was “so happy” that the couple had been released and she was expecting to speak to her son later on today.

She said: “I spoke to Naveed, one of my grandsons. They are elated but they are absolutely worn out.”

Mrs King said she expected the family would take Ashya to Prague for proton beam treatment as soon as they were allowed to “get it done because there is no time to delay”.

She accused Hampshire Constabulary and Southampton General Hospital of “backtracking”, adding: “They have not told a word of truth to try and make themselves look good.

“It’s been lies and then U-turns.”

‘Insufficient evidence’

A judge ordered the release after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it was seeking the withdrawal of the European arrest warrant that sparked the pursuit of the parents.

The CPS said it had arranged with Southampton Magistrates’ Court for proceedings to be dropped and the arrest warrants discharged.

It said: “The CPS has urgently reviewed the case and we consider there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offence. We have therefore decided to stop the criminal proceedings.”

Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the news and said it was “important this little boy gets treatment and the love of his family”.

Simon Hayes, police and crime commissioner for Hampshire, said he was seeking assurances about the “quality of the information” provided by the hospital to police.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the Government was proposing to fly a top oncologist to Spain to advise the family.

He said the NHS offers proton beam therapy for children who need it and had funded 99 patients in the last year, adding: “It is not always appropriate, it is not always safe.”