SUBMARINERS returning from a 267-day deployment aboard HMS Turbulent were welcomed home to the choral sounds of the Plymouth Military Wives Choir.

Manned by 130 sailors, the Devonport-based submarine is the last unit from Operation Ellamy, the UK's contribution to action in Libya, to return home. And to celebrate their return to Plymouth, a number of the now famous Military Wives Choir performed on board.

It was an emotional reunion for choir member, Victoria Forth, 28, as she was reunited with her husband Tim, also 28, having spent five-and-a-half months apart since his last leave.

Mrs Forth, after greeting him with tears and a hug, said having him home was better than it would be to get the Christmas Number One with the Military Wives' record-breaking single 'Wherever You Are' – but only just.

She said it was a "very, very close" call as to which would be better – with getting the coveted Christmas chart top spot coming an "almost equal second".

"If we get the number one it means we raise that much more for the Royal British Legion and SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Families Association).

"It will be a really magic Christmas this year."

The song has now smashed the Take That record on Amazon.co.uk as the best selling music product of all time and is now in prime position for the Christmas Number One.

While on board the attack submarine the choir's members were each presented with a dolphins badge, the insignia of the Navy's submarine service.

Commander Ryan Ramsey, Turbulent's captain, said: "The choir coming on board was an amazing finale to the deployment and a fantastic welcome back to the UK.

"We saw some of their progress – obviously we don't get a lot of communications while we are away – and we knew it (the publicity) was building up, but that was a fantastic welcome back to the UK."

Choir member Angela Eames, whose husband is based at 42 Commando, added: "It was certainly a first performing on a submarine. It was excellent but very scary at the same time because the weather wasn't great which added to the nerves we already had."

The charity single Wherever You Are will be released on Monday.