The appeal hearing for twelve British plane-spotters found guilty of spying in Greece has been examining their notebooks.

The key prosecution witness told the court in Kalamata, southern Greece, he could not confirm whether the notes amounted to spying.

Squadron leader Nektarios Samaras, of the Greek army, who arrested the group one year ago, said the group had entered the nearby air base legally.

But he told the appeal, which got under way a day late, his suspicions were aroused by their "very careful, very systematic" behaviour.

It would be common knowledge that note taking is forbidden, we cannot put up signs for everything

Sqdn Ldr Nektarios Samaras

In April six of the Britons and two Dutch men were found guilty of spying and given three-year jail sentences, but were allowed to return home pending their appeals.

The remaining six Britons were found guilty of aiding and abetting and given one-year suspended sentences.

One of the group, Paul Coppin, has been accused by the prosecution of taking "more detailed notes" than the others.

Mr Coppin, who organised the tour, produced a manual in response to the allegation he was writing more than the other plane-spotter.

Aggressive

He told the courtroom: "You say it has more details than any other.

"It is a list of aircraft I have not seen, copied from this book."

Mr Samaras appeared to have softened his position since the original trial in April, when he claimed their notes were too expert to have been made by amateurs.

Under more aggressive questioning by the appeal judge, Georgios Efscathiou, the squadron leader admitted he could not confirm the contents of the notebooks constituted spying.

Families have travelled for the appeal

Mr Samaras said: "I cannot say, I am only a military officer.

"Someone could pass this information and know exactly the position of the Greek army.

"If an enemy had this in his hands, then it would cause us problems."

But he also conceded that noting down serial numbers of military aircraft could be a harmless pastime.

Outrage

Mr Samaras agreed that while signs banning photography were displayed at the Kalamata air base where the plane-spotters were arrested, there were no signs banning note taking.

"It would be common knowledge that note taking is forbidden, we cannot put up signs for everything," he said.

Air base mechanic Ioannis Balas told the court the Britons' notebooks were so small they could be "hidden in the hand".

But he added he had no proof the group was gathering information to be used for spying.

Mr Balas's evidence completed the prosecution case, and the appeal was adjourned until late afternoon when the defence will begin putting its case.

The convictions sparked international outrage and the Britons say the Greek security service had "improper influence" on their court case in Kalamata.

The sentencing came as a shock in April

They are now demanding assurances of a fair hearing, but risk tougher sentences if they lose their appeals. Espionage carries a maximum prison term of five years.

The six convicted of lesser charges have the option, under Greek law, to "convert" their sentence into a fine of 10 euros (�6.37) for every day.

But they said they were determined to clear their names, even if meant taking the case to the Supreme Court in Athens and the European Court of Human Rights.

They say they were just pursuing their hobby and had official permission to be at the bases on the open days.

Of the 12 original plane spotters, only one is not returning to the southern Greek port city for the appeal.

Mick Keane, of Dartford, Kent, has been told not to go back on health grounds, but he continues to protest his innocence.

The group will present letters from him and his doctor during the hearing.

Those found guilty of espionage were:

• Paul Coppin, 45, of Mildenhall, Suffolk
• Peter Norris, 52, of Uxbridge, west London
• Antoni Adamiak, 37, of London
• Andrew Jenkins, 32, from York
• Graham Arnold, 38, from Ottershaw, Surrey
• Gary Fagan, 30, from Kegworth, Leicestershire
• Patrick Dirksen, 27, from Eindhoven, Netherlands
• Frank Mink, 28, from Den Helder, Netherlands

Those found guilty of aiding and abetting were:

• Lesley Coppin, 51, Mildenhall, Suffolk
• Michael Bursell, 47, of Swanland, near Hull
• Michael Keane, 57, of Dartford, Kent
• Steven Rush, 38, from Caterham, Surrey
• Christopher Wilson, 46, from Gatwick, West Sussex
• Wayne Groves, 38, from Tamworth, Staffordshire