Amie's perfect Valentine's gift

As she prepared to mark her 21st birthday and Valentine's Day, there was only one gift student Amie Blakeway was interested in – the return of her boyfriend Stephen Morris.

A member of 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, the 22-year-old had been on a five-month tour of duty in Afghanistan but was determined not to miss his girlfriend of three years' special weekend. He lodged a request for his two-week rest and recuperation period months ago.

But student Amie only found out he was returning to their home in Pool Lane, Oldbury, on Friday. Although Stephen arrived home empty-handed yesterday, having had no opportunity to pick up a present before landing at the RAF's Brize Norton base, Amie said she would not hold it against him.

"All I wanted was for him to come home," she said. "To have Stephen here is better than any other gift I could have got."

Stephen will fly back for the final month of his tour of duty in a fortnight.