THE 12-strong group of planespotters freed on bail from prison in Greece continued with their hobby even after they were released, shouting out plane numbers they could see as their 'plane to freedom' taxied along the runway.

Euro MP Richard Howitt, who campaigned for their release and accompanied them on the plane home, said Antoni Adamiak whose sister Anna lives in Epping had a window seat and shouted out the numbers as they made their long-awaited journey home, to an emotional reunion with their families at Luton airport on Saturday morning.

Mr Adamiak has spoken of his 37 days in prison in Greece and of his relief that he is home, in time for his 38th birthday tomorrow (Friday).

His employer, Lloyds TSB, for which he has worked as a systems programmer for 17 years, stumped up the £9,000 bail money required to allow him to come home.

He said: "I'm very grateful to my employer for securing my bail bond and absolutely delighted to be back in the UK in time for Christmas and to have a good knees-up for my birthday."

He admitted the second best thing about being back in England, after a moving and tearful reunion with mother Sheila and his sisters Anna Skinner, of St John's Road, Epping, and Maria Kennedy, was savouring a cuppa and a home-cooked meal.

He said: "It's amazing but when your freedom is taken away it's the little things that you normally don't appreciate or take much notice of that you really miss.

"I went to my mum's house on Saturday and she made me a cup of tea and chicken casserole for dinner and it was the best tasting cuppa and meal I think I've ever had."

Mr Adamiak said he was always confident the spying charges would be dropped.

"It was mad. We went on holiday in the same way that people go to resorts and went to an airbase where we were accused of taking pictures of the aeroplanes. They thought we were an organisation of spies, which was so utterly ridiculous that we were always confident the charges would be dropped.

"I did have some dark days when it all seemed like a big conspiracy. I knew we were facing 20 years in prison and my life in England flashed before my eyes and I thought that if they convicted us my life would be over.

"I kept thinking of my 15-year-old daughter Danielle whom I don't see as much as I would like because her mother and I are divorced, and then suddenly I got a letter from her and it was like a godsend and I thought I have to stay strong and get through this.

"It's lucky I was able to do that and when I got to see her on Sunday I explained just how much her letter helped me to stay sane and battle through."

He still has to return to Greece next year with the rest of the party to answer a reduced misdemeeanour charge which carries a maximum five-year sentence.

But for now he is putting that to the back of his mind, enjoying the seasonal festivities and licking his lips in anticipation of a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

"I can't wait to enjoy Christmas this year it will seem all the better because for a while I thought I would be spending it in prison but luckily now I will be surrounded by my family and friends.

"However I have already started making my new year resolutions one of which is most definitely not ever to go plane-spotting in Greece again!"

Mr Howitt, referring to the planespotting incident on the flight home, said: "It was funny, but it demonstrated what they are. It was testament to the fact that Antoni is an innocent man just following his hobby."

Antoni a Chelsea season ticket holder from Isleworth, London took his prized seat at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea beat Premiership leaders Liverpool 4-0 on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Howitt said: "That's a real sign of his life getting back to normal. He's a very balanced, normal young man who hasn't deserved this to happen to him."

December 20, 2001 8:55