Drugs mule Melissa Reid has arrived back in the UK at Glasgow Airport, after spending nearly three years in prison in Peru.

The 22-year-old was jailed along with Northern Irish woman Michaella McCollum for trying to smuggle almost €2m worth of cocaine to Spain.

Ms McCollum from Co Tyrone was released in March, but has to stay on parole in the South American country.

Last month, a Peruvian court concluded that Reid has shown remorse for her crime.

She was released under a new Peruvian law which allows first-time drug offenders to walk free for good behaviour after completing a third of their sentence.

Janeth Sanchez, a spokeswoman for Peru's prison system, said: "(Reid) served her time in prison according to the law and can now go to her country, free, to the streets."

A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We continue to provide assistance to Melissa Reid and remain in contact with her family and local authorities."

McCollum insisted in a television interview earlier this year that she is a "good person".

Michaella McCollum during her interview | Image: RTÉ

 The pair had claimed they were forced to board a flight with 24lbs of cocaine in food packets hidden inside their luggage, but later pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

Both were being held at the notorious Ancon 2 jail - where conditions are said to be cramped - with poor sanitation and toilet facilities.

Reid's father Billy has previously said the impact of his daughter's crime on his family had been "horrendous" and spoke in a video warning of the consequences of drug offences abroad.

About 90% of the 1,800 foreigners in Peru's prisons are awaiting trials for drug trafficking, or have been sentenced for such crimes.