TEARS of protest came from Jessica Johnson when her dad took her in his arms - which was only to be expected from an almost seven-month-old baby finding herself cuddled by a stranger who had been absent for most of her life.

Petty Officer Mike Johnson has just returned home after a five- month spell of duty in Sierra Leone on board HMS Argyle. He said: "I just couldn't wait to get back to Portland to my wife, Sarah, our nine-year-old Charlotte and Jessica, who was still very much an infant when I left and is now a little person in her own right.

"She certainly wasn't as thrilled to see me as I was to see her but as the day has gone on she has begun to show interest and has started to accept me as part of the family."

While he has been away, Sarah has kept her husband well supplied with pictures marking Jessica's progress, and the ship's telephone and e-mail facilities meant that they could chat practically every day. Sarah said: "It has been a long five months and we have been looking forward to this day ever since Mike left.

"Now it's here and I'll have someone to share the chores of bringing up baby."

Charlotte is thrilled to have dad home again, especially as he has quite a bit of leave to come and they will all be together for Christmas.

Mike, 38, is a helicopter mechanic and lives with his family at Withie's Croft on Portland.