YORK air enthusiast Andy Jenkins learned today he must return to Greece next month to face trial.

Mr Jenkins will be tried on a single misdemeanour of espionage charge on April 24 at Kalamata court, his lawyer, Ioannis Zacharias, has confirmed.

If convicted he could face a maximum of five years in prison.

Mr Jenkins was arrested, along with ten other men and a woman, on November 8 last year at Kalamata airbase for allegedly taking photos during an air show in the town.

He had travelled to Greece on an excursion organised by Touchdown Tours, led by Surrey man Paul Coppin.

The group was held in prison for nearly six weeks before being released in December on bail of about £9,000 each after judges reduced the charge to a misdemeanour of gathering secret information.

The trial is scheduled to last two days, Mr Zacharias said.

Andy said this afternoon he was confident he would be cleared. "I am fine about it. I am absolutely confident - I have done nothing wrong," he said.

The news has shocked Mr Jenkins' family, who are still waiting to hear confirmation of the details.

Andy's father, Edwin, said: "This is the first I have heard about it. His lawyer has not contacted us.

"Obviously this is worrying. He has done nothing wrong."

Andy's brother, Steve, said: "We thought it would be treated like a misunderstanding and that they would be released. This news is a bit of a shock. I didn't expect it."

Updated: 15:46 Wednesday, March 06, 2002