The British teacher who was jailed in Sudan for letting her young students name a teddy bear Mohammed is now back in her hometown in Northern England and received a welcome note from local Muslims, according to news reports.

Muslims delivered a message of support to the home of Gibbons' son, and brought a bouquet with the message: Welcome back, Gillian, according to the Associated Press.

Gillian Gibbons arrived in Britain early Tuesday morning after being pardoned and said she was sorry to leave the country and never imagined such an situation would arise. Police have sealed off the street in front of her son's home in Liverpool, where more than 40 reporters waited outside.

I am very sorry to leave Sudan. I had a fabulous time there. It has been an ordeal but I was well treated in prison and everyone was very kind to me, said Gibbons according to Times Online. She arrived at around 0705 GMT in Heathrow and was reunited with her son John and daughter Jessica.

Gibbons, 54 was sentenced to 15 days in jail in Sudan for insulting Islam. On Monday, Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir granted her a presidential pardon after holding talks with two British peers, Lord Nazir Ahmed and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi.

Speaking about Sudan, Gibbons said It is a beautiful place and I had a chance to see some of the countryside. The Sudanese people I found to be extremely kind and generous and until this happened I only had a good experience.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was delighted and relieved to hear Gibbons had been pardoned and freed. Britain has had strained relations with Sudan for several years due to the conflict in Darfur.

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