THIS is the moment a Royal Navy sailor from the North-East was welcomed home by his number one fan after more than six months at sea.

Engineering Technician Daniel Richardson, originally from Spennymoor, County Durham, was greeted by son, Jack, when his ship docked in Portsmouth yesterday (Wednesday, October 9).

The excited two-year-old had to be held back from the gangway after he spotted his dad on the deck of HMS Kent and was desperate to be reunited with his hero.

Jack and Mr Richardson’s wife, Georgie, were among hundreds of people who lined the jetty to welcome HMS Kent back from the Middle East.

The Type 23 frigate left in March and sailed more than 39,000 on security and counter-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea and Gulf.

Mr Richardson, 22, a former Spennymoor Comprehensive School pupil, said: “Jack knew who I was straight away, he spotted me as the ship was coming in and was told off for trying to run up the gangway to get to me.

“It was challenging being away for so long, you go through different emotions and feel it will never end.

“But once we hit the half way point and a maintenance period in Dubai everything then was heading in the right direction, it is a relief to be back home now.”

Mr Richardson, 23, is looking forward to quality family time, including a visit to Spennymoor, during three and a half weeks leave before returning to the ship, which will stay in Portsmouth until next year.