Airman's race home from Afghanistan to see son in nativity

He has dodged bullets and avoided land mines in Afghanistan but Matthew Lancaster faced one of his biggest challenges when he embarked on a 3,500 mile race against time to see his seven year-old son Calum's nativity play.

And despite a six-hour delay at the airport in Kabul and a hold-up on the M6, the 31-year-old senior air craftsman made it in time to St Patrick's Catholic School in Stafford with just two minutes to spare before the play began.

It was the happy ending he had been dreaming of – and one that had half the audience at the Key Stage Two carol concert in tears.

The serviceman, who works as a refueller in the Tactical Supply Wing, was met by wife Natalie at the school entrance before staff quickly ushered them to two reserved seats in the front row. C

alum, who had no idea his dad was coming home, did a double take when he caught sight of the familiar face in the audience but managed to carry off his part as one of the three kings without a flaw.

Proud father Matthew realised he could make the school play after being released from military duty a week early.

"I'd talked about nothing else all week because I didn't think I'd be able to go, then with all the delays on the journey, it looked like it wasn't going to happen. It was a mad panic.

"We eventually touched down in the UK at 2pm but then had to drive up to our base in Stafford, and at one point they closed the M6. When we got to camp I just dumped all my bags in my car and made it literally with a minute to spare. I was still in my uniform with my passport in my pocket."

Natalie, also 31, said there was no time for an emotional reunion. "There wasn't even a 'Hello darling', it was just 'Quick, get in there'.

Governor and teaching assistant Dawn Jamieson said everyone was primed for action. "Everyone was so thrilled he made it."

Matthew is looking forward to being with his family over Christmas and well into the New Year with no more overseas tours planned.