AN EAST Lancashire man has been arrested on suspicion of spying for the Russians.

Peter Stephen Hill, 23, a former Territorial Army trooper in the Royal Armoured Corps, was arrested by police under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly attempting to sell military documents to Russia.

Police from London's Metropolitan Police detained him in Leeds on Wednesday after an undercover operation in which an officer is believed to have posed as a Kremlin agent.

The alleged security breach is believed to have been from a Government establishment and not from a commercial military supplier or manufacturer.

Hill, who is from Colne and attended Clitheroe Grammar School, has also been charged with possessing explosives after material was discovered by officers when a property and business premises in Skipton were searched.

Hill has been released on bail in connection with alleged breaches of section one of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which covers passing information that could be helpful to an enemy.

But he will appear before Leeds Magistrates today charged under section four of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.

The charge alleges that on November 8 in Skipton Hill had knowingly in his possession or under his control "an explosive substance, namely component parts including sodium chlorate, sugar, hexamine tablets, matches, bearings, a metal hollow tube and acetone, under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that you are not making it or did not have it in your possession or under your control for a lawful object."

His solicitor, Grahame Stowe, said that Hill denied the charge and would be applying for bail, which is set to be opposed by the Metropolitan Police.

He said that he had been released on bail in relation to the spying charge until November 29 while police decide whether or not he should be charged.

Mr Stowe said: "He is fine. He is in good spirits and is anxious to see his family and move on. He wants to leave custody as soon as he can."

Hill, who is a risk analyst, went to Park Primary, and Park High School, both in Colne, before studying A Levels at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School between 2001 and 2003.

On his MySpace website he says that he went on to study politics, philosophy and economics at Keele University, where he was a member of the Catholic Society, Keele Sailing Club, the Libertarian Alliance and the Conservative Future group.

He puts down his interests as TA-stuff in general', air-rifle shooting', writing, watching DVDs and going to the cinema.

His favourite books include the works of Edgar Allan Poe, 184 by George Orwell, Stupid White Men and Dude Where's My Country by Michael Moore, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Anarchy, State and Utopia by Robert Nozick.

His mother, of Keighley Road, Colne, refused to comment about her son's arrest. No one would comment at Hill's address at Lambert Street in Skipton.

Chair of governors at Clitheroe Grammar School Canon Philip Dearden was surprised by Hill's arrest but said that he did not know him.

He said: "I did not know him. I couldn't make comment on the lad's character. He must have been a rather bright lad and have got three A Levels."

Headteacher Judith Evans was unavailable for comment. A spokesman on behalf of the Territorial Army also refused to comment about the case as proceedings were ongoing.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan police confirmed that HIll was arrested at approximately 8.10pm on Wednesday November 7 at an address in Leeds under the Official Secrets Act 1911.

He said that he was further arrested under section four of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.

The spokesman said he was charged with the explosives offence on Saturday and would appear at Leeds Magistrates today.