was expected.

And Bermuda's British Airways Press officer Mrs. Sally Singleton was with Laura and her family as they touched down at Manchester Airport yesterday.

Mrs. Singleton has been in charge of British Airways press conferences this week as Laura Davies prepared to fly home.

The airline and the British Government paid for Laura and her parents Mr. Les and Mrs. Fran Davies to fly to Pittsburgh in May.

The four-year-old was born with an improperly formed small intestine and an operation to lengthen the organ wasn't successful.

Before the transplant, she was kept alive by intravenous feeding, but the process destroyed her liver, necessitating the double transplant, doctors said.

Laura, who underwent surgery in June, has attracted worldwide attention. More than $600,000 was raised to pay for her care, including $270,000 contributed by Saudi Arabia's King Fahd.

Since the surgery, Laura has grown taller, gained weight and no longer retains body fluids as she did before the transplants. A yellow tint to her skin has disappeared and she is eating solid foods.

"I'm back,'' she said when she arrived at Heathrow Airport with her parents en route to their home near Manchester. Mrs. Davies said: "We want her to rest, get settled in, and then we'll have the best Christmas ever.'' Doctors said Laura had an unexpectedly quick convalesence and was allowed to return home months early. She will have to return to Pittsburgh next summer for minor corrective surgery, her parents said.

HOME AGAIN -- Transplant girl Laura Davies arrives in England to a hug from British Airways pilot Capt. Nigel Fletcher.