HUNDREDS of people turned out to welcome Burmese democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi back to the city she called home more than 20 years ago.

Ms Suu Kyi made her triumphant return to Oxford yesterday, on the day of her 67th birthday, after years of detention under house arrest in her homeland.

A mix of local residents, tourists and Burmese people. started gathering in the city centre at about 3pm yesterday to see her.

By the time she arrived at 4pm, there were some 400 waiting patiently behind barriers in Catte Street.

On a sunny June afternoon, Ms Suu Kyi was brought back to her former home by a fleet of grey British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Landrovers, flanked by police motorbikes.

As a smiling Ms Suu Kyi stepped from her car, wearing a purple scarf and white flowers in her hair, crowds cheered and sang Happy Birthday.

Others shouted “welcome back” as she chatted to wellwishers who presented her with flowers, scarves and letters.

The chairman of the National League for Democracy was greeted by Chancellor of Oxford University Lord Patten, vice-chancellor Prof Andrew Hamilton, and Andrew Dilnot, principal of St Hugh’s College, where she studied in the 1960s.

After she was greeted on the steps of the Clarendon Building in Broad Street, Ms Suu Kyi travelled to St Hugh’s College in North Oxford.

Among the crowds was Gentian Rahtz of East Oxford.

She said: “She is a wonderful, wonderful woman. She has been imprisoned for years and has been incredibly brave to speak out in a country like Burma. She emanates the most wonderful aura.”

And Kate Clayton-Hathway, 47 of Headington, said: “I came here today because I wanted to witness some history.”

A private party for Ms Suu Kyi was due to be held last night at St Hugh’s College in St Margaret’s Road, complete with birthday cake.

The democracy leader was expected to meet her two sons, Alexander, 39, and Kim, 34, at the college, and other family and friends.

Ms Suu Kyi will today receive an honorary doctorate in civil law from Oxford University and the Freedom of the City of Oxford.

She said earlier that she hoped her visit to the UK, which she left in 1988, would not be “tinged with sadness.”

Prof Hamilton said: “We have the honour of welcoming an alumna who is one of the great figures of the 20th and 21st centuries.”