THE father of a former Worcester man charged with espionage while on a Greek plane-spotting holiday is hopeful his son may be released soon.

Wayne Groves was detained with 13 others more than two weeks ago, on suspicion of taking photographs at a military air base.

Now his lawyer wants to split the group into two and hopes to individualise their charges.

Tony Blair last night intervened personally on behalf of the spotters by raising their plight in a conversation with the Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

"Four of the group had no films, cameras or notebooks," said Wayne Groves' father Don, speaking from the family home in Kilbury Drive, Whittington, yesterday.

"The defence lawyer has confirmed Wayne is one of them. They should be separated and we hope they'll be released because there's no evidence against them."

Mr Groves, aged 38, a former Nunnery Wood High School pupil, was part of a group arrested on Thursday, November 8, in Kalamata, 149 miles south-west of Athens.

His father flew to Greece on Monday, hoping his son, who now lives in Tamworth and works as a manager for the railway network, would join him on the return flight.

Wayne could face up to 20 years in jail after the investigating magistrate decided there was evidence to support the existing charges and that more may be added.

"Wayne's still in pretty good spirits," said his 64-year-old father.

"When we were over there we went more or less directly to the prison and they eventually let me in.

"The reason I went out there is that there were confident reports they'd be released. But as I came out of the prison there was word of further charges against them."

Wayne is a committed aviation enthusiast who has travelled the world following his hobby.

"He's been everywhere without any problems," said his father.

"He's been to America about 15 times and to Korea. He's been doing this for years."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "While we can't interfere with the legal proceedings in Greece, we're in touch with Greek authorities to ensure the judicial system is working as speedily as possible.

"We're satisfied this is the case. We remain in close contact with the party's lawyer."