Teacher Gillian Gibbons, 54, is back home after being released from jail in Sudan. She had been jailed on 29 November for letting children in her class name a teddy bear Muhammad.

Mrs Gibbons was convicted of insulting Islam after another member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education.

In a Khartoum court, Mrs Gibbons was found guilty of insulting Islam and not guilty of two other charges. She could have faced 40 lashes if found guilty of all three.

After Mrs Gibbons's 15-day term was imposed, crowds of people marched in Khartoum to call for a tougher sentence. Some reportedly called for her to be shot.

Protesters were angry because they said Mrs Gibbons had insulted Islam. Fears for Mrs Gibbons's safety led officials to move her from prison to a secret location.

In the UK and elsewhere, meanwhile, Mrs Gibbons's sentence met with widespread condemnation and calls for an immediate release. The incident embarrassed the Sudanese government.

The British diplomatic effort to secure the release of Mrs Gibbons was ultimately led by British Muslim peers, Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi, who flew out to Sudan.

On the third day of their visit, Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi managed to secure a meeting with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who they hoped would overturn the sentence.

The pair had their work cut out with the president - he was also under pressure from Sudanese hardliners to ensure Mrs Gibbons served her full sentence.

After the meeting, the president pardoned Mrs Gibbons and she was released from custody. Lord Ahmed said he and Baroness Warsi were proud to have played their part.

Reunited with her family at Heathrow airport, Mrs Gibbons said she was glad to be back but sorry to leave Sudan.