A SHOCKED brother of one of the Greek planespotters jailed for three years today insisted: "My brother is no spy."

Andrew Jenkins was one of six planespotters found guilty of spying charges by a court in the southern town of Kalamata and sentenced to three years. Six more were found guilty of aiding and abetting them.

Today, his brother Stephen, of Southwood Drive, Baxenden, described the verdict as a "farce" and talked of starting a campaign to clear his brother's name.

He spoke as Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw admitted he was shocked by the sentences and said he would push for the appeal to be heard quickly.

The defendants were allowed to fly home yesterday to prepare for the appeal but Stephen, 45, said: "I am totally shocked by this, it's all a bit much to take in at the moment. Andrew is not a spy, he was just enjoying his hobby." Andrew, from York, was one of 12 British planespotters arrested in November in Kalamata on suspicion of espionage after allegedly gathering secret information at a military air base.

The 12 -- plus two Dutch men -- were on a plane spotting tour.

After spending a month behind bars in a Greek jail the group was released in December and returned home.

Six more Britons received one year sentences yesterday after being found guilty of aiding and abetting their colleagues but the sentences were immediately suspended.

Stephen said: "Me, Andrew and our dad went for a drink just before he went to Greece and he was very calm about it. Just before he went to Greece he was still planespotting, he wouldn't be doing that if he was a criminal. This is hard for the whole family to understand.

"Our dad has got a bad heart and this is not good for him."

The sentence was slammed by MPs from this country and across Europe. Stephen Jakobi, director of Fair Trials Abroad, said: "I've forecast all along that if the Greeks got this one wrong the shock waves would be felt throughout Europe."

Stephen said if Andrew was jailed, he hoped he could serve his sentence in a British jail.

He said: "It would be better for all of us if he could be over here, especially after his previous experiences in the Greek jails."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "British Embassy officials have been at the trial and are in touch with the defendants, offering them whatever help they can."

Mr Straw said: "I was shocked at the sentences but very relieved that they had been released, some unconditionally and some pending appeal. I will be pushing for a speedy appeal.

"People are surprised about the difficulties between our legal systems but the Greek judiciary are as jealous of their independence as we are of ours.

"The Greek foreign minister has been very helpful though."