Lesley Coppin: Disgusted with Greek justice

A further six Britons were found guilty of aiding and abetting and were given sentences of one year each, suspended for three years.

Dr Papadakis said it was "very significant" the Britons had been allowed home.

Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis also said the court "had been as indulgent as possible."

But Hellenic Association Of Travel & Tourist Agencies head Yannis Evangelou said he was "worried" about the reaction of the nearly three million British tourists who holiday there every year.

'Horrified'

"It is all quite embarrassing - but we respect the decisions of the justice system."

Speaking at Luton airport as they returned home on Saturday morning, the plane-spotters told how they were "horrified" at the verdicts delivered less than 24 hours earlier.

But they vowed to return to Greece to appeal against their convictions and, if necessary, to take their cases as far as the European courts.

Some feel they would stand a better chance if their appeal was heard in Athens rather than Kalamata, southern Greece, where they were arrested and tried.

I am an innocent man except I now have a criminal record

Michael Bursell

But a legal expert warned that they may have to go to Europe to get their convictions overturned.

The plane-spotters already have legal costs of around �16,000 each.

But Michael Bursell, who received a suspended sentence for aiding and abetting spying, told BBC News that he was determined to overturn this "miscarriage of justice".

"I am an innocent man except I now have a criminal record," he said at Luton airport.

Lifetime hobby

"These are innocent people whose lives they are wrecking.

"I have been pursuing this interest for 30 years and visited many countries and have never been treated in this way.

Paul Coppin, of Suffolk, who was found guilty of espionage, said he, and the rest of the group, had been left completely "horrified" by the decision of the Greek court.

"How can I go on with my life with that hanging over me?

Paul Coppin organised the trip

"The prosecution did not have any evidence at all.

"Even our lawyer, who never seemed to stop talking, was left speechless. I want to sort it out."

His wife Lesley, for whom the trip was a belated honeymoon, said she and the rest of the group were "disgusted" and "devastated".

"I have never seen such a weak prosecution case, such a good defence and such a lousy decision.

"We will take it all the way to Europe if we have to. I will go to prison if I have to. But I am not going to let them get away with it."

Labour Euro MP Richard Howitt, who flew home with the group, said they had been "let down" by the Greek nation and fallen victim to pride and not common sense.

Those found guilty of espionage are:

• Paul Coppin, 45, of Mildenhall, Suffolk
• Peter Norris, 52, of Uxbridge, west London
• Antoni Adamiak, 37, of London
• Andrew Jenkins, 32, from York
• Graham Arnold, 38, from Ottershaw, Surrey
• Gary Fagan, 30, from Kegworth, Leicestershire
• Patrick Dirksen, 27, from Eindhoven, Netherlands
• Frank Mink, 28, from Den Helder, Netherlands