The announcement is a tribute to the sustained hard work of her parents who mustered so much support for her case

Nora Radcliffe MSP

Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce and MSP Nora Radcliffe, whose constituency includes the village of Pitcaple, welcomed Gregory's release.

Mr Bruce: "Stan and Doreen have been dignified and indefatigable in the fight for their daughter's release.

"They have shown tremendous determination and mustered an amazing breadth of support for Sandra's case."

Nora Radcliffe, who tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament last January backing Sandra Gregory's application for a Royal pardon, echoed Mr Bruce's comments.

Leaving the jail with Doreen Gregory

"Sandra Gregory never denied that what she did was wrong but she has paid the price for it many times over," she said.

"The announcement is a tribute to the sustained hard work of her parents who mustered so much support for her case."

Gregory was caught with 86.9 grams of heroin inside a condom in her body at Bangkok airport in 1993.

Her repatriation was part of the UK-Thai Prisoners Transfer Agreement following visits to the country by the Queen and UK foreign secretary.

'Humbled' by release

After her release, Gregory said: "I only found out yesterday when my mother told me. I was not expecting it at all and am humbled by it.

"I think more than anybody I would like to thank my parents for everything they have done. They have been great."

Gregory said she accepted full responsibility for what she did. "I still think Thailand is a marvellous country," she added.

Sandra Gregory spent several years in a Thai jail

She said she was still in shock and she did not have firm plans for her future.

"There are things I would like to do but my choices are limited.

"I cannot travel abroad and going for a job now will be a problem. I cannot go back to teaching because I have a criminal record.

"I would like to do something with drug rehabilitation, there is a big demand for it. Most girls in prison have a drug problem."

Mrs Gregory, 62, said she was "over the moon" that her daughter had been released.

"The whole prison is rejoicing, from the governor to all the prison officers and prisoners, they are so happy for her."

She said she would take her daughter back to the family home in Pitcaple.

"It will give her some peace and quiet and time to get her head together and to see her grandparents," she said.

Speaking from the family home, father Stan Gregory, 66, said he felt the large amount of support her case had received in Britain had contributed to the King of Thailand's decision.