Emotional return for dismissed Wren

Donna Ward, who was forced to leave the Royal Navy when she became pregnant, celebrating with her daughter Natasha yesterday after rejoining the service.

Her reinstatement was ordered last November by an industrial tribunal, which also awarded £2,000 compensation. After signing enlistment papers and being issued with her new uniform at HMS Nelson in Portsmouth, she said: "I feel absolutely wonderful. It's brilliant." Mrs Ward, 33, had to leave the Navy nine years ago when she became pregnant with her son James. Since then, she has had two more children, Aaron, six, and Natasha, four.

She described the day she was forced to leave as "devastating". However, she fought to return and was backed by her husband Alan, who is also in the Navy.

Mrs Ward, who will be a Wren steward at HMS Dryad, said: "It's brilliant. The whole nine years have suddenly flown past and all the emotions have come together in a great crescendo."