Girl and her tortoise shell stick together

Three-year-old Daisy-May is all smiles at her Shropshire home after being reunited with her runaway tortoise.

Mr Tortoise made a bid for freedom via her family's back gate in Horsehay – but was found 24 hours later, just four doors away, by the husband of Shropshire Star crime correspondent Kirsty Smallman.

The reptile was found enjoying the shade underneath a car by John Smallman.

Kirsty took the lost pet to Wrekin View Veterinary Practice in Wellington, after it was discovered on her driveway by John on Saturday. The tortoise was not micro-chipped so its owner could not be traced.

But on Sunday, police in Telford called Kirsty after they found the pet had been reported missing. Neighbour Sophie Davies, her fiance Matthew Jinks and their daughter Daisy-May were ecstatic when they were told Mr Tortoise was safe. Miss Davies said: "We thought he was dead and we'd never see him again. We're so pleased."

Kirsty said: "It looks like he had come out of their back gate around our garage and took shelter under my husband's car.

"It took him 24 hours to do that short journey – he must have been exhausted."