Plane spotters home after spying ordeal

Stephen Hampton and Mr Ayres aroused suspicion in Delhi after asking hotel staff for a room overlooking a runway at Indira Gandhi

International Airport, while carrying an air traffic control scanner, laptop, binoculars and cameras. The men faced spying charges, which carry a jail term of up to 10 years, but were charged with a lesser offence and the two railway workers from Bristol, were fined 25,000 rupees (362) for illegally monitoring aircraft. They were arrested just two days after a terrorist bomb blast in Pune put India on high alert.

Labour MP for Wansdyke Dan Norris, who drove them home, said: "They are obviously absolutely elated to be home. They are dazed but relieved to be home."

Mr Hampton said: "It's a great relief, we are just glad to be back in the UK. We didn't believe we would be back in the UK until we touched down at Heathrow."