A Sussex man and 11 other British plane spotters accused of spying in Greece were told today they will be released on £9,000 bail.

Yannis Zacharias, lawyer for the 12, said: "We are very pleased as this was our objective all the way through."

One of the 12 is Christopher Wilson, of Erica Road, Horsham. His wife Julie has always insisted the BT engineer is innocent of spying.

Mrs Wilson's mother said her daughter was aware of today's development.

She said Julie was relieved but was also waiting for official confirmation that her husband would be freed.

The charges faced by the group, along with two Dutch companions, are to be reduced from spying, as recommended by Greek prosecutors, to a single charge of illegal information collection, Mr Zacharias said.

The decision by a panel of three judges in Kalamata is the first glimmer of hope for the group in an ordeal which began over a month ago.

They will be freed after depositing the bail and could be released by tonight, although they are more likely to leave tomorrow after handing the money over, their lawyer said.

Mr Zacharias added: "The judges accepted the argument of the defence that if they have committed anything at all it is misdemeanour and amended the charge to that for all of them."

He said he was not sure when the 12 would be released because it depended on when bail was paid.

The group was arrested on November 8 following organised visits to Greek air bases near the town of Kalamata.

They were on a plane-spotting tour organised by Touchdown Tours, run by Paul Coppin, 45, of Mildenhall, Suffolk, who is one of those held. His wife Lesley is also being detained.

The families of the accused have attacked the Greek legal system for being too slow to release them and insist they did not violate a ban on photography.