Family and colleagues of British teacher Gillian Gibbons spoke of their joy yesterday after Sudan�s president granted a pardon allowing her to return home.

Family and colleagues of British teacher Gillian Gibbons spoke of their joy yesterday after Sudan's president granted a pardon allowing her to return home.

The mother-of-two was sentenced to 15 days in jail on Thursday for allowing her class of seven-year-olds to call a class teddy bear Muhammad.

But after being pardoned by President Omar al Bashir, the 54-year-old was expected to return to Britain today.

After being informed of her release, Mrs Gibbons's son, John, 25, said the family was "very pleased" her ordeal was nearly over.

"It's been a strange old week, very stressful and particularly bad for the family but now she's coming home, fingers crossed. If this week has taught me anything, it is that anything can happen."

In Liverpool, Mrs Gibbons's former teaching colleagues said they were thrilled by her release.

Rick Widdowson, headteacher of Garston Primary School, where she spent 12 years, said: "Everyone is very relieved and very pleased. We feel it should never have come to this but it's a good ending."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "delighted and relieved" at the teacher's release adding that "common sense has prevailed".

Mrs Gibbons, from Aigburth, Liverpool, was released four days after being convicted of insulting Islam. Hundreds protested in Khartoum on Friday, some demanding she be executed.

The move came after 48 hours of talks between British Muslim peers Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi with officials in Khartoum.

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the teacher was "a little overwhelmed" at the attention her case had attracted , but was in "remarkably good spirits" and "elated to be on her way back home".

He added: "She has shown very good British grit in very difficult circumstances but I know the most important thing for her is to get home as soon as possible.

"Gillian Gibbons is a dedicated teacher, who wanted to contribute something to Sudan, who certainly has been at worst guilty of an innocent misunderstanding and certainly intended no offence."

He also hailed the "team effort" which led to Mrs Gibbons's release, saying the intervention of Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed had made "an important contribution".

Earlier, a protest involving around 50 people was held outside the embassy in Khartoum, with banners demonstrating about her release.

President al Bashir announced that he had pardoned Mrs Gibbons after his meeting with Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed, and said she had had a "fair trial".

In a statement read out by Baroness Warsi, Mrs Gibbons said: "I have great respect for the Islamic religion and would not knowingly offend anyone.

"I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends but I am very sorry that I will be unable to return to Sudan."

Mrs Gibbons prompted the complaint after she allowed her pupils at Unity High School to name a teddy bear Mohammed.

The trial was sparked when a school secretary complained to the Education Ministry that Mrs Gibbons aimed to insult the prophet.