MORE than £16,000 was spent by Hampshire police searching for a cancer-stricken five-year old boy who was taken by his parents from hospital in Southampton.

Hampshire police launched the hunt for Ashya King in August when his parents took him from Southampton General Hospital for treatment abroad.

The couple were found a few days later in Spain and were arrested but released without charge.

During the search officers claimed £12,712.97 in overtime, accommodation and travel while other costs came to £3,443.

Ashya's grandmother, Patricia King, 77, said: “It's disgusting to spend all that money when there's crime going on.”

Hampshire police said its priority would “always be with the welfare of the child”.

His parents, from Southsea, claimed last month that Ashya is now cancer free after undergoing “proton beam” therapy at a clinic in the Czech Republic where they wanted him to be treated at a cost of £75,000.

The treatment was not available through the NHS but Southampton hospital bosses have defended their treatment saying his chances would have been just as good through traditional methods.