A US county clerk in the state of Kentucky who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples has been released.

Kim Davis had refused to comply with a Supreme Court order legalising same-sex unions - saying it violated her religious beliefs.

A large crowd gathered in the city of Grayson to hear her speak after she was freed.

She was greeted with rousing cheers from supporters and declared triumphantly:"I just want to give God the glory. His people have rallied and you are a strong people."

Ms Davis has been held in contempt of court - with a judge telling her she would be locked up until she complies with his order to issue the licences.

"You can't be separated from something that's in your heart in your soul," Ms Davis said at the time, according to the BBC.

"I promised to love Him with all my heart, mind and soul because I wanted to make heaven my home."

The judge, US District Judge David Bunning said he had "no alternative" to imposing a custodial sentence.

"Her good faith belief is simply not a viable defence," said Mr Bunning.

"Mrs Davis took an oath. Oaths mean things."

It's not yet known how James Yates and William Smith - the first gay couple to be granted marriage licences in the state following Davis' imprisonment - have reacted to the news. 

Davis's plight had turned her into a cause célèbre among right-wing American pundits and many conservative Americans. Outside the courthouse, Yates and Smith had to file past several placard-bearing supporters of Kim Davis, including her (third) husband, calling the Supreme Court's ruling "illegal.