The family of a seven-year-old Rochester boy, who has been taken on the run by his mother in Poland, have now launched a petition calling for the prime minister to help bring him home.

Max Bagnall was taken by Jolanta Majda, without the consent of his father, Alex Bagnall, in August last year.

His family have been fighting a legal battle at home and abroad, and last month a High Court judge in Poland agreed with a UK ruling that Max should be brought home immediately.

But Miss Majda took Max out of school, deleted her phone number and social media account, and has disappeared.

So far 1,560 people have signed the online petition calling for David Cameron to personally step in to help the Bagnalls.

The family have also created a Facebook group #bringmaxback to appeal for information.

Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst bought attention to the family’s plight in Prime Minister’s Questions last month, where Mr Cameron promised to do everything in his power to help.

He also said the Ministry of Justice’s International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) would stay in touch.

But Max’s grandfather, Andy Bagnall, 47, said: “After almost three weeks the Foreign Office has told us they are in touch with the Polish authorities but there is only limited help they can give us.

“They referred me back to the government abduction unit who have not contacted me proactively since last year.

“As they have been of no help so far we are in no doubt the government is not assisting at all.”

He added that he had emailed the ICACU but they have a 20 working day response time.

The family have still not heard from the Polish police about Max’s whereabouts. Mr Bagnall said: “We are in a lucky situation where I have a half-decent job and can afford to fight. It’s cost me £10,000 so far.

“Luckily, I have contacts in Poland so we were able to get a decent Polish solicitor. It’s obscene the UK government can’t intervene or give us any advice. The whole thing is a travesty.”

Miss Tolhurst said the search for Max was now in the hands of the Polish police, who were being assisted by Kent Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

She said: “I remain positive that Max will be returned safe and well as soon as possible.

“After so many months of distress for the Bagnalls, I am encouraged we are now close to achieving the outcome that so much love, drive and resource has been devoted to.”

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: “We have been providing advice and support to him and will remain in close contact with Polish authorities about this case.”

Search #bringmaxhome on Facebook.