Smiling and waving to the scrum of cameras, the celebrity socialite Paris Hilton trotted free from jail in California on Tuesday after serving three weeks for driving-related violations.Dressed in a short-sleeved jacket and jeans, the blonde heiress stepped out smiling at the pack of photographers and ran to hug her mother Kathy Hilton, who was waiting in a car to whisk her away.

The 26-year-old reality television star and heiress to the Hilton hotel empire was jailed for violating probation over a conviction for alcohol-related reckless driving, drawing frenzied media attention.She had came out on June 7 after three days citing unspecified medical reasons, but on a judge's order was put back in the Century Regional Detention Facility in the Los Angeles suburb of Lynwood a day later.

Television helicopters pursued the cavalcade accompanying her as the car took to the highway, amid speculation over where she would spend her first night of freedom after 23 days in prison -- a contrast to her glitzy social life.

Satellite television vans were seen in the streets surrounding her house in the Hollywood Hills and city authorities have declared temporary no-parking zones near Hilton's home.Media also speculated that she may retire to her parents' beach house in coastal resort of Malibu to relax after her release.Hilton's parents were also reported to have planned a lavish "coming out" party in Las Vegas, Fox News said.

But reports Monday quoted Hilton's family and friends as saying that a "quiet gathering" was being planned, playing down speculation of a Vegas bash.The Los Angeles Times earlier reported Hilton's neighbours in Hollywood had distributed leaflets protesting the party girl's presence in their midst.

"Dear Neighbor, since the arrival of Paris Hilton to our neighbourhood, we've seen our quality of life deteriorate," the leaflet reads, referring to the swarms of reporters and cameramen that invaded the neighbourhood at the time of her first short-lived release.

Neighbors have complained that as well as the habitual presence of paparazzi, Hilton's home has also hosted wild parties that have shattered the calm of the area."Paris is doing really well, she is really looking forward to going home, and she thanks you in the press who supported her," a spokeswoman for the Hilton family said earlier.

"She wants to be with the family and she can't wait to take that orange suit off."Hilton is mainly well-known for being rich and famous, and shot to international fame thanks largely to a sex tape of her and an-ex boyfriend which appeared on the Internet.

She has also released a music album and appeared in films such as "House of Wax," "Pledge This," and the forthcoming "The Hottie and the Nottie."

Hilton's first post-prison interview will be held with veteran CNN anchor Larry King on Wednesday. The network and a spokesman for Hilton said the celebrity would not receive payment for the interview.

In a statement released through her publicist, Hilton said she was pleased to go on the show, "to discuss my experience in jail, what I have learned, how I have grown."