RUNAWAY schoolgirl Emily Carrigan hugged her father yesterday and said: "I love him so much."

Steven Carrigan and his 14-year-old daughter were reunited in London and have spent the past few days resolving their differences while staying with friends in Glasgow.

Emily disappeared from her home a week ago on Sunday after arguing with her father.

Speaking for the first time about her disappearance yesterday, Emily said: "I know now how much he loves me and I'm just so glad to be back.

"I was silly to run away. I have told my dad I am so sorry and I know I have caused him a lot of worry. I am so glad I came back. He's been great about everything."

Mr Carrigan said: "I am the happiest man alive. Last week when Emily was missing was a nightmare, but that is all over now.

"Everything has been sorted out. It was no inquisition, I am just so glad to have her back."

The Carrigans have decided to take a mini-holiday in Scotland to "let things blow over".

Emily will return to Davison High School next week while Steven will go back to work as a solicitor with legal firm Lings.

Emily, who lives with her father and brother Piers, 11, in Smugglers Walk, Worthing, took the train to London the day she left home and booked into a homeless shelter.

Emily had been worried about a number of things before she left home, including a impending split with an older boyfriend and a feeling that she was disliked by some people at school. Mr Carrigan also later learned she had been experimenting with drugs.

She said: "I was angry with my dad and just wanted to get away. I knew he loved me but I was very mixed up after the argument.

"A lot of things were said which made me very confused. I spent the day sulking in my room and then decided to go to London.

"I went to the station and sat on the platform until the first train came. I made some new friends at the hostel but all the time I was missing my dad and brother.

"If anyone is in my situation I would tell them it is not worth it. I thought I could handle it but I was scared while I was in London.

"When I saw my dad again I was in tears. I love him so much."

Mr Carrigan said: "I guess she wanted to punish me a little bit because of the argument but she had no idea of the proportions it had reached."

Emily, calling herself Joey and claiming to be a 16-year-old runaway, found out about the nationwide search for her after a boy at the shelter spotted her picture in a newspaper.

Her father, a diabetic who found his health suffering through lack of eating and sleep, had reported her missing on the Sunday night.

Police spoke to more than 200 friends of Emily as they searched for her along the South Coast.

Mr Carrigan said: "When she found out and saw my haggard-looking face in the paper she burst into tears and telephoned me straight away. You just can't imagine what it feels like to have her back. Last week was the worst week of my life.

"Emily says she is very sorry and would like thank everybody who helped in the search, especially her friends at school. She didn't realise how much people cared about her.

"I would personally like to thank the media who put their weight behind the search.

"I would like to thank the police especially for their efforts and the local people who reacted superbly."

He added: "The irony is that she says the cue to her leaving was me not talking to her. I passed her about three times in the kitchen and didn't say anything. If I had of done the whole thing could have been avoided."

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