ARRESTED York air enthusiast Andy Jenkins was today told he will be released from prison, but at a heavy price.

The three Greek judges investigating the espionage charges against Andy and his 11 fellow British plane spotters say they can be released on unconditional bail of about £9,000 each.

The charges against the group have been lowered from spying, which is a serious felony, to "illegal information collection", which is a misdemeanour.

The news means the group, which also includes two Dutch men and 51-year-old grandmother Lesley Coppin, is likely to be home in time for Christmas.

The group's defence lawyer, Ioannis Zacharias, said: "We are very pleased as this was our objective all the way through.

"The judges accepted the argument of the defence that if they have committed anything at all, it is misdemeanour, and amended the charge to that for all of them."

The group will almost certainly be allowed to leave Greece after paying the bail money.

They may have to return to face a trial on the misdemeanour charge, although it is common Greek practice in such cases to excuse the defendant's attendance.

But Andy's sister, Adele Yon, of Bishopthorpe, said she had no idea how the family could raise £9,000 to free Andy.

"It worries me, because I don't know where we would get that kind of money from," she said.

"I hope there will be some way of paying it, but then we have to think about the legal fees as well.

"All this for something that he didn't do; it's just disgusting. Obviously I'm glad he's coming home, though."

Andy's friend, Adrian Hairsine, of Rawcliffe, said Andy's family and friends would find some way of raising the cash, in order to bring him home.

"I am over the moon," he told the Evening Press.

"At least he'll be coming home; it's a chance for him to get his confidence back, and for them to regroup.

"This is a sign that at last the Greek justice system has come to its senses.

"They'll raise the money somehow, I know they will. It's just a matter of getting him home."

The judges made their decision after hearing a 40-minute presentation by Mr Zacharias, and fellow lawyer Ioannis Nikiteas, on why the group members should be freed.

The decision flies in the face of the Greek prosecutor's recommendation that they should all stand trial for the serious felony of spying.

Andy is unlikely to be released from Nafplion Jail today, as the Greek banks have closed and the group would be unlikely to be able to raise the bail money in the space of an afternoon.

A release tomorrow, or on Friday at the latest, seems more likely.

Andy's air ticket with British Airways remains open, so technically he could catch the first convenient flight after leaving prison.

However, it is understood that the budget airline easyJet, whose owner is Greek, has made unofficial offers to the group to bring them home free of charge.

Updated: 12:48 Wednesday, December 12, 2001