A MAN who was arrested in Greece after being accused of spying has finally made contact with his family in East Lancashire for the first time since being apprehended.

Andrew Jenkins, who lives in York, told his father that he was having to sleep on a urine and blood-stained mattress and live off a diet of boiled potatoes and peas since he was locked up in a Greek prison more than two weeks ago on a charge of espionage. It was the first time his family had had direct contact with him.

His brother, Steve, of Southwood Drive, Baxenden, said: "We are so worried about him. He hasn't looked too clever in the pictures we have seen and we hope he is coping, but he managed to ring dad to say he was all right.

"It must be terrible for him stuck out there. He hasn't done anything wrong and we want him released as soon as possible."

Andrew, 32, a keen air enthusiast, was among the group of plane spotters arrested for espionage in the town of Kalamata two weeks ago.

Steve said his brother had to buy his own bottled water and toilet paper and eat from a trough if there were no plates.

Along with 11 British and two Dutch plane spotters, Andrew was today due to appear in a Greek court.

An air force report could lead to additional charges for some in the group, said defence lawyer Iannis Zacharias.

He described the air force accusations as "very serious" and said it was uncertain whether everyone in the group could be considered for release.

The current charges carry a maximum 20-year jail sentence.

Steve, 45, added that the family was increasingly frustrated by the lack of information.

He said: "Andrew is an enthusiast and was probably doing nothing more than simply trying to enjoy his hobby.

"When we were kids we were always being encouraged to go to air shows and we went all over the North of England ."

"I am more into motorbikes now. When I go to events, I always try to get a look in the pits and Andrew was just doing the equivalent with planes."

Greek foreign minister George Papandreou, has raised hopes for the group after saying he hoped their case could be resolved soon.

Mr Zacharias added that Andrew definitely did not take notes or pictures of aircraft at an air base near Kalamata, and was not a member of the group who had a frequency scanner.