CONDITIONS in a Greek jail where a former Worcester man is being held on espionage charges are said to be "concerning" the Foreign Office.

The British consul was expected to visit the jail after one member of the group of aviation enthusiasts described the scene.

"The consul is due to visit the prison and will discuss the issue with Paul Coppin," said a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office, speaking yesterday.

"He will then be ready to raise it with the prison governor."

Former Nunnery Wood High School pupil Wayne Groves, aged 38, who works as a manager on the rail network and lives in Tamworth, Staffordshire, is being held as part of the 12-strong group of British plane-spotters.

Mr Coppin, who runs Touchdown Tours, the organiser of the week-long trip, said the group had been strip-searched and thrown into separate cells.

Prison officers had insisted the group could no longer stay together and they were being kept with hardened criminals, Mr Coppin told the Daily Mail.

"It's terrifying here, our situation is hell," the 57-year-old said. "This is degrading, humiliating, frightening and terribly unfair.

"I'm a plane spotter, nothing else. I'm not a spy.

"The conditions are appalling, totally inhumane. Get us out, just get us out.

"I honestly don't know how much more I can take."

The group is expected to remain in jail for up to 12 more days before they face a judicial counsel on espionage charges, which carry a 20-year sentence.