SEVEN British planespotters who were acquitted of spying in Greece are to have their bail money returned, a court ruled yesterday.

An injunction blocking the release of the bail money, of (pounds) 9963 each, was dropped by a judge at the First Instance Court of Athens.

The Britons had travelled to the southern port city of Kalamata to attend a Hellenic Air Force open day in November 2001 only to be arrested for spying. Their convictions were quashed on appeal a year later.

The ruling means the seven planespotters could receive their money by next week.

A further legal battle is likely for the four who were not involved in the hearing - Paul and Lesley Coppin of Suffolk, Andrew Jenkins of York and Steve Rush of Surrey.