THE elated mum of a Stourport sailor has already booked her dockside ticket to give him a welcome home to remember when his ship, the Ark Royal, returns from the Gulf next month.

Sara Foster was "absolutely over the moon" to hear that son Steven Barnes, who serves on the Royal Navy's flagship, had begun his homeward journey.

And her six-year-old son William was literally speechless when he came off the phone from talking to Steven.

"I've booked tickets for me and the children and Steven's girlfriend, Samantha, to be on the dockside at Portsmouth when the Ark Royal docks.

"We'll be there cheering and waving banners - it's so exciting," said Sara.

Travelling with her and Samantha on May 17 will be daughters Susan, 20, two-year-old Molly, and sons, William and Joseph, three.

Steven, 21, is in Oman and is about to head off to Parma on the Ark Royal for a break, before returning to England.

Shortly after heading off for the Gulf, Steven lost a prized £500 gold bracelet during a burglary at the family home in Gilgal.

After reading the story in the Shuttle/Times and News Kidderminster jeweller Bill Crook offered to replace it.

Sara said she was looking forward to taking Steven to meet Mr Crook and choosing a replacement at his shop BBM Jewellery, Lion Street.

Steven, who was close to tears when she told him of Mr Crook's gesture, will have two weeks leave at home before returning to the Ark Royal .