British plane spotters imprisoned in the UAE since February are released

Conrad Clitheroe, 53, was detained alongside two other British men Credit: MEN Syndication

Three British plane spotters who have been detained in the United Arab Emirates for the past two months on suspicion of espionage have been released without trial today.

Conrad Clitheroe, 53, Gary Cooper, 45 and expatriate Neil Munro were arrested in February after an off-duty policeman spotted them taking notes near Fujairah Airport, about 80 miles from Dubai.

The men were then held on charges of committing a "national security offence" - which have today been dropped by the supreme court in Abu Dhabi.

"The charges are being dropped with no fines or penalties. They've had a long time to wait to be told your case is ridiculous," said Radha Stirling, founder of the charity Detained in Dubai, which lobbied for the men.

Before her husband's release, Mr Clitheroe's wife Valerie, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, wrote to David Cameron's office appealing for him to intervene in the case.

Plane spotting is legal in the UAE, but not widely understood.