Dartford: A Dartford man accused of espionage along with 11 other Britons is still being held in a Greek jail.

Mick Keane, 57, of Burnham Road, who has travelled all around the world plane spotting, was arrested 27 days ago after allegedly taking photographs inside a military base near the south-eastern town of Kalamata.

The plane spotters' plight took an unusual turn when the group's leader was accused of links with Turkish intelligence services.

A fellow member has said the Greek authorities were "clutching at straws" to suggest Paul Coppin, owner of Touchdown Tours, which organised last month's trip to Greece, was working for Turkey.

But it was revealed Mr Coppin had spent a week in Turkey earlier this year as a guest of the country's armed forces.

The revelation came to light during interrogations by Greek court and intelligence officials last week.

Mr Coppin said he was working as a journalist in Turkey for the magazine Air Britain and his own Touchdown website.

The group's latest support has come from the Greek-born founder of easyJet, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who has flown relatives to Greece on his budget airline.

He told reporters he was prepared to act as an expert witness for the group and added: "I am happy to do anything I can to help these people."

The plane spotters are now said to be in good spirits after being moved from the harsh Kalamata prison, where they were forced to sleep on floors.

They are now being held at Nafplion jail, about 56 miles south-west of Athens, where they have been given beds to sleep on.

Political pressure on Greece has been building up and Greek judges have speeded up their review of the evidence.

As the News Shopper went to press, it was thought a decision on their future could have been reached by today.

December 4, 2001 18:11