YOUNG cancer patient Ashya King can be taken to a clinic in the Czech Republic to receive treatment not available in England after a High Court judge approved his parents' request to do so.

Brett and Naghmeh King, who took their five-year-old son from Southampton General Hospital without the permission of doctors last week, had their treatment plan for Ashya approved after a telephone call between their lawyers, the hospital's legal representatives and a judge.

It is not clear when Ashya may be transferred to the University Hospital Motol in Prague.

The clinic said they expect the earliest the young boy will arrive is Monday.

The Kings, from Southsea, were arrested in Malaga and held in custody after British police raised the alarm when they took their son from hospital last week. They were released when prosecutors withdrew an arrest warrant in the wake of a public outcry.

Portsmouth City Council, which has responsibilities for Ashya's welfare, launched family court litigation - asking for directions about the youngster's treatment.

Mr Justice Baker began analysing issues surrounding Ashya's treatment at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court on Tuesday.

The judge was told that Mr and Mrs King wanted their son to receive proton beam radiotherapy.

A lawyer representing bosses at Southampton General Hospital said doctors aimed to provide chemotherapy but not proton beam. Vikram Sachdeva said such treatment could not be provided in Britain.

Mr Justice Baker said in his order released yesterday that Ashya - who is currently in hospital in Malaga - could be taken to the Czech Republic.

He said he had been told that specialists at a Czech proton therapy centre had considered a treatment plan.

And he said he had seen evidence of the treatment planned, evidence of plans to fly Ashya to Prague and evidence that Mr and Mrs King could afford the cost of treatment and transport.

The judge said he would cease to have responsibility for Ashya once the youngster arrived at the Czech hospital.

A spokesman for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said last night: 'Today's judgement will allow Ashya to get the treatment he urgently needs without any further delays.

''Throughout the period that we cared for Ashya and over the last few days, our only interest has been his health, medical treatment and welfare. We will continue to support any clinicians involved in his future care with advice and information.''

Dr Peter Wilson, lead paediatrician at Southampton General Hospital, defended their decision not to recommend proton beam therapy.

He said: ''For this particular tumour, the reason why the proton beam was not deemed to be of any benefit is because you have to irradiate most of the brain and spine anyway.''

He said Ashya needs radiotherapy following the surgery he had six weeks ago.