Guy Ritchie is smiling again for the first time in weeks after being allowed to spend time with his children without Madonna.

His sons ? Rocco (eight) and adopted David (three) ? arrived from New York last week and their doting dad happily collected them from Gatwick.

A friend of the 'RocknRolla' director told The Sunday Express: "Guy is looking after the kids without the constant nagging of his wife and letting them play freely in the place he loves most, Ashcombe. He's just doing normal stuff with them, taking them for long walks and doing a spot of fishing."

The children have also been to see their granddad, retired advertising executive, John Ritchie, who celebrated his 80th birthday last week.

John said: "I'm very pleased for Guy it's all over. What?s important is that he doesn't want the children to live in America permanently. He's a good father and won't let that happen."