An father who endured a “nightmare” of more than four months languishing in a Greek prison is a free man again after being released last night.

Friends of Fran Prenga, who runs a plumbing and bathroom business in Otley , say he was released from Amfissa prison after a trial yesterday which found him innocent of 70 charges of armed robbery in Athens.

Mr Prenga, 34, is now spending time in Greece with wife Louise and one-year-old daughter Maria before heading home as friends celebrated the end of a “nightmare” for the family.

Family friend Hayley Wood said everyone was “overjoyed” at the outcome. Mr Prenga was detained by authorities in May, despite protests of his innocence. “We are all absolutely overjoyed that this nightmare is finally over,” she said.

Support for Mr Prenga has come from colleagues, customers and Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland.

Mrs Wood said: “For everyone that has rallied around, supported and helped in every little way, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

She said the family wanted to be left along for a few days before returning to West Yorkshire.

Last night, Mr Mulholland said he was delighted and said it was a “huge relief”. He said: “The arrest and detention of Fran Prenga was a huge shock to his family, friends and those who knew him.

“The judgement of the court today vindicates Fran and brings to an end what has been a horrendous nightmare for him and his family.

“I am delighted that justice has finally been done and that Fran can now return home to Otley a free man.”

Mr Prenga was arrested after attending a police station to fill in legal documents relating to a possible investment in a restaurant.

Last night a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed a court hearing had taken place, but said his department had not yet received official details of the outcome from colleagues in Greece.