Happy to be home! An overjoyed Maria Stern with her children Tyler and Amanda. Maria is looking forward to getting back to normal after her long court battle in Canada

A TRANSATLANTIC tug-of-love mum is back at home in Bolton with her "little angels".

Overjoyed Maria Stern, 29, returned after a five-months court ordeal in Canada.

The nursery nurse teacher of Hypatia Street, The Haulgh, said today she was looking forward to "getting back to normal".

She has been living out of suitcase in a women's refuge in Medicine Hat, three hours from Calgary.

Her estranged husband Mark, 33, wanted to stop her from keeping their son Tyler, aged two, and daughter Amanda, five.

A court battle had loomed but Mr Stern had an 11th hour change of heart allowing Maria to come home with the children.

However, Maria left in an atmosphere of bitterness against the man she once loved.

He allegedly assaulted her the day before she was due to leave and was being questioned by Canadian police.

And Maria is still facing one more hurdle preventing her children from staying in Bolton.

They do not have dual nationality and have only been allowed into Britain on a six-months visa. However, Maria is confident she will successfully apply for British citizenship for them.

She said: "Words cannot describe how I feel to be home. It is brilliant. The kids are already settling in. Tyler was a bit shy at first but last night he was bouncing on everyone's knee, laughing.

"Once we get the passports sorted out then everything will be fine. We are just taking it a day at a time at the moment and trying to settle down."

Her family have supported her through the five months of "hell".

They raised cash to help pay for legal expenses and other costs of around £5,000 in Bolton and her mother Norah Middleton has been with her every step of the way in Canada.

But Maria has special praise for the "wonderful" help given by the volunteers and workers at the women's refuge.

She said: "Without them I don't know how I would have coped sometimes. I cannot thank them enough."

She had sacrificed almost everything to be near her children as she fought a legal battle with her estranged husband.

He wanted to stop her from taking them back to England and had instigated kidnap charges against her.

He did this after Maria fled the country last summer after eight years of marriage. However she was forced to return to Canada under international law.

But the family were holding a quiet celebration this week after Maria was given custody of the children.

Amanda will now be able to start back at primary school and Tyler can continue with therapy for a shoulder which was damaged at birth.

"I am happy but I am just relieved its over," said Maria. "It has been the most traumatic time of my life. Fortunately I don't think it has harmed the children who are the most important people in this after all."