THE brother of one of the 12 planespotters cleared of espionage in a Greek court today spoke of his relief at the decision.

Andrew Jenkins will return to England on Sunday, determined to carry on with the hobby that almost cost him his freedom.

Brother Stephen, from Queen's Road West, Church, spent last night celebrating after a court in Kalamata freed the 11 men and 1 woman two days short of a year after they were arrested.

"When my dad rang me to tell me, he was getting upset but I calmed him down because he's not in the best of health. Andrew lives with my dad so he's there all the time, doing his tea and looking after him," said Stephen.

And he said the group had checked whether they could go on the ill-fated trip in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11 last year, two months earlier.

"They had already gone into it to see if it was all OK to go to these air shows and then this just happened. It was some new general at the air base who probably went over the top. They didn't understand this planespotters thing"

Stephen spent last night celebrating with his girlfriend into the early hours of the morning but hadn't managed to speak to his brother yet. He has spoken to my dad in York, and he's over the moon. It was on the television while I was on the radio this morning so I couldn't listen to it."

Andrew flew out on Saturday, the day after his 33rd birthday, and Stephen said he would probably be having a belated celebration. "I gave him some money to have a drink and I daresay he will be celebrating tonight.

"Now it's over there will be no more big solicitors' fees to pay. Everyone can start relaxing and getting on with their lives," he added.