Plane spotters free at last

Twelve British planespotters jailed by the Greek authorities a month ago are to be freed on bail, raising hopes that they will be home in time for Christmas.

The dramatic development came as three judges threw out the spy charges levelled against them and said they should face misdemeanour charges instead. One Greek lawyer said those charges could be dealt with in the next few days.

Today Ron Arnold, the father of planespotter Graham Arnold, said: "I am overjoyed that common sense has started to prevail. I am hopeful that now we will get what we really want - we want them home for Christmas. It is unbelievable news. I can't begin to say how I feel."

But before they are released, the Greek authorities are demanding that each of them pays £9,000 bail. Asked how he would raise the money, he said: "I will find that and get it out to them."

The group was arrested on 8 November at a Greek air show and accused of taking photographs and making notes. Over the weekend it was revealed that Greek government officials had asked Turkey to reveal anything it knows about the group - especially its leader Paul Coppin.

Friends and relatives of Mr Coppin have confirmed that he went to Turkey in May as a guest of the Turkish military, but denied that this implied anything incriminating or sinister. Mr Coppin, 45, whose company Touchdown Tours took the group to Greece on a planespotting trip, has said he was in Turkey as an accredited aviation journalist.

The judges, meeting in the town of Kalamata where the group was arrested, had been advised by the state prosecutor that they should remain in jail. Among those who spoke up for the planespotters was Home Secretary Jack Straw, who appealed directly to the Greek government. The decision to release the party came as fears were being expressed about the conditions in which they were being held. Wayne Groves, 38, revealed three of the group were separated much of the time. After 5pm they were taken to two parts of the prison. The group struggled to keep up their morale with quizzes and books.

The scaling down of the charges makes it unlikely that the men will have to return to jail. Even if they are found to be guilty, the authorities are likely to fine them or to conclude that the month served in jail is punishment enough. There was widespread speculation that the Greek government was unhappy about the way the case was pursued but felt it could not interfere with the judicial process.

The 12 given bail today - along with their two Dutch companions - are Paul Coppin, 45 and Lesley Coppin, 51, of Mildenhall, Suffolk; Peter Norris, 52, of Uxbridge; Antoni Adamiak, 37, of London; Andrew Jenkins, 32, of York; Wayne Groves, 38, of Tamworth; Michael Bussell, 47, of Swanland, near Hull; Michael Keane, 57, of Dartford; Steven Rush, 38, from Caterham; Christopher Wilson, 46, who lives close to Gatwick Airport; Graham Arnold, 38, from Ottershaw, Surrey; and Gary Fagan, 28, from Kegworth, Leicestershire.