Plane-spotters take concerns to Europe

Paul and Lesley Coppin celebrate acquittal

Two British plane-spotters acquitted of espionage charges in Greece are taking their concerns about the country's legal process to the European Parliament.

Paul and Lesley Coppin, from Mildenhall, Suffolk, are flying to Strasbourg on Tuesday to tell Euro-MPs about their case.

They are travelling at the invitation of their local MEP, Richard Howitt, who campaigned for their acquittal.

The couple will take part in a series of meetings over two days with senior members of the European Parliament and other European Union officials.

'Catalogue of failures'

Mr Howitt, a Labour MEP, said: "I am absolutely convinced my European colleagues need to hear about the catalogue of failures that characterised this case - and to do so personally from the people who suffered most.

"I have secured meetings with both the leader of the MEPs from the Greek governing party and with my Italian Euro-MP colleague responsible for minimum standards in the judicial processes across the whole of the European Union.

"It would be easy for Paul and Lesley to walk away from the whole case.

"I deeply respect their own determination to work with me to ensure lessons are learnt and real change secured for the future."