A FORMER Worcester man was still languishing in a Greek jail this morning, unaware plans were underway for his release.

Wayne Groves, an ex-Nunnery Wood High School pupil, is part of a 14-strong group of plane-spotters who were due for release at 8am British time today.

But delays meant the 12 Britons and two Dutchmen remained in jail, despite each providing £9,000 in bail money.

"I spoke to Wayne at about 8am and he had no idea they might be released. He said they'd been split into groups of three and put in different parts of the prison," said his mother Sheila Groves, speaking from the family home in Kilbury Drive in Whittington, this morning.

"They've been told nothing about being released. I've told him what I know from watching the TV."

The group was detained on Thursday, November 8, after allegedly photographing and making notes about military aircraft at an airbase in the south-eastern town of Kalamata.

A panel of three judges agreed earlier this week the plane-spotters, including 38-year-old Mr Groves, a railway manager from Tamworth, Staffs, would not face espionage charges.

But the group will have to return to Greece in the New Year to face misdemeanour charges, which carry a maximum five-year stretch.

Donald Holder, the British Consulate in Athens was unavailable for comment as the Evening News went to press.