Police have confirmed there is a European arrest warrant out for the parents of a seriously ill boy who was taken out of hospital against medical advice.
Police in England had earlier said they have "positive information" to suggest that the family of Ashya King may now be in Spain.
Hampshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead said the arrest warrant was sought in order to give police the power to talk to the parents, once they are located.
He stressed the warrant should not discourage the parents from coming forward as the priority remained the health and safety of missing Ashya, who has a brain tumour.
Mr Shead confirmed the battery on Ashya's feeding mechanism "will have expired" and that police had a "shrinking window" to find him.
In a direct appeal to Brett and Naghemeh King, he urged them not to attempt to deliver the urgent care Ashya needs themselves, as it requires specialist training and facilities.
Without it Ashya will start to dehydrate and his condition will deteriorate, Mr Shead said.
It is not known whether the King family has any spare batteries for the machine which administers food or any way of recharging the battery.
Spanish search
Mr Shead reiterated that British police were working closely with Spanish authorities after receiving positive information to suggest the family has strong links to the Marbella area and that they may be travelling there.
It is thought the family have a property in the region.
He said there had been no further sightings of the family since their car was last spotted on Friday, prompting police to expand their search into Spain.
He again urged hospitals in Spain and throughout Europe to look for someone matching the little boy's description or symptoms to see if he has been admitted.
Interpol has sent out a missing persons alert to its 190 member countries as concerns for the boy's welfare have grown.
Ashya is likely to be in a wheelchair or buggy, cannot communicate verbally and is immobile, a police spokesman said
The family was last seen boarding a ferry in Portsmouth and travelling to Cherbourg in France, arriving at approximately 8 o'clock, Thursday evening.
The family are Jehovah's Witnesses, but it's unclear if Ashya was taken from the hospital on religious grounds.
The registration of the grey people carrier that the King family are travelling in is KP60 HWK.
Police believe the vehicle may have travelled through France and into Spain after disembarking the ferry at Cherbourg.
Hampshire Constabulary Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead said: "If you see the vehicle, or if you think you may have seen Brett, Naghmeh, Ashya and the six other children, please call us now on +441962 841534 or dial the European emergency number on 112 as soon as possible."
Originally published 8:25am
