Ground Force star Tommy Walsh was held by Greek police for five hours amid mistaken fears he was trying to expose security lapses at the Olympic stadium, he said yesterday.

The television builder was grabbed by officers after he tried to have his photograph taken on the part-built Athens site.

But the presenter was there with Zoo magazine for a feature on how he thought the controversial building programme was going.

The detention came a day after The Times newspaper exposed security concerns when its reporter said she spent two and a half hours on the site unchallenged.

And Walsh, who laughed off the incident, said he believed he was detained so the local police could make an example of them and show security was tight.

He said: ''It was quite an adventure, or misadventure.

''When I came out of the police station, the Greek press and media were all outside sticking cameras in our faces.

''I think because they have had a slating about security they thought they might have an opportunity to make a PR killing."