FREED human rights campaigner James Mawdsley is heading to the North-East today four days after his release from prison in Burma.

Following a hectic round of weekend interviews in London, after flying into Heathrow Airport on Saturday, he plans to spend a relaxing few days at the home of his mother, Diana, in Brancepeth near Durham.

The 27-year-old pro-democracy activist was released on Friday, four days after the Burmese military junta said it was deporting him.

He spent more than 13 months in solitary confinement in remote Kentung Prison after being given a 17-year sentence for handing out pro-democracy literature on entering the country at a border crossing in August last year.

Mrs Mawdsley accompanied him on the flights home from Burma, and he was greeted by his father, David, twin brother Jeremy, and his sister, Emma Mawdsley, a Durham University lecturer, at Heathrow Airport at about 5am on Saturday.

Between weekend press engagements the family was able to spend some time together at a London hotel. Emma returned to Durham yesterday and expects to be followed by James and their mother today.

"I think he would like a little bit of a rest. He's spent the weekend giving interviews, trying to highlight what's going on in Burma, but he's utterly exhausted," said Emma last night.

"It's been an exhilarating weekend. I'm amazed how healthy he seems, he's incredibly robust.