STRANGE but not spies - that's the verdict on the imprisoned British aircraft enthusiasts from their Greek guards.

One of the guards at Nafplion Prison, where York man Andy Jenkins is being held, told the Evening Press he did not believe the Britons were spies.

The guard, known as Nikolai, regularly sees Andy and the 11 other British men held at Nafplion Prison, and said he hoped they would go home soon.

"We think what they do is strange," he said.

"But we don't think they are spies. We know them and they are okay. If were spying, different, I think."

When asked if he liked the prisoners, he said cryptically: "I maybe not say that.

"Is not good for me," he added, but would not say why.

Perdita Norris, wife of detainee Peter, said the prisoners were still being treated well, despite an influx of new prisoners from Athens which happened while the group was attending court in Kalamata.

She said: "Things are tough in there, but they get on with it. They get to know which guards are the ones they can work with, and which ones they can't.

"All the guards are pretty strict to start with, but they kind of learn the tricks of how to plead with them or to get on the right side of them, and they can break them down."

The prison day starts at 8am when the inmates are allowed out of their cells to roam in an outdoor exercise yard. They can also "mill about" in an inside room if they wish, said Mrs Norris.

The first meal of the day is at 11.30am, and consists of boiled vegetables, and often veal.

They are then put back in their cells from noon until 2.30pm, when they are released for another session in the exercise yard.

At 5pm there is a 15-minute head count, before the prisoners eat an evening meal, which is pretty much the same as the first.

Then there is more free time to roam the yard until 8pm, when they are returned to the cells for the night.

Mrs Norris added: "It seems clear that the guards change the rules to suit them.

"Sometimes we have been allowed to see them, sometimes not. Sometimes they say it's okay to take in phone cards to give them, sometimes not. Sometimes they will let you bring in oranges and bananas, sometimes they will have a thing against bananas and say just oranges. You don't know what to expect each time."

Nikolai the guard added: "They (the Britons) behave good, they laugh a lot. We want them go home."

Updated: 11:15 Friday, November 30, 2001