A ROSYTH sailor is returning home in time for Christmas after being deployed on the other side of the world.

Leading Hand Andrew Cretch, 27, grew up in the town and is now a leading aircraft engineering technician, having been an avionics aircraft engineer on Merlin Mk2 helicopters flying out of RNAS Culdrose previously.

He was deployed as part of the Royal Navy’s largest operational deployment in a generation.

The forces are in the blood as Andrew's great-grandfather was a Commander in the Royal Navy and served in Malaysia during the Second World War.

Despite travelling to numerous exotic locations including Malta, Guam, Cyprus, Oman, Singapore and Japan during his time in the Navy, Andrew is looking forward to spending time back at home as when asked what he misses the most he said: “Spending time with my family, as well as Scotland as a whole; especially the outdoors.”

His travels aren't over on his leave, however, as he said he would also be “flying to Bruges for New Year” following Christmas.

The HMS Queen Elizabeth, the aircraft carrier on which he works, is the largest warship ever built for the Royal Navy and he has a personal connection to it as his friends helped build it while working with Babcock.