Shropshire family 'shell-shocked' by turtle Jim's return
[gallery] They might not be the world's fastest animals, but this turtle managed to do a runner from its Telford home for a whole nine months.
Jim, a beloved American three-toed box turtle went missing from his home in Maws Craft Centre in Jackfield near Ironbridge in September.
But now he's back home and reunited with his family, after being found in the garden, not too far from where he went missing.
Sabine Townend, Jim's owner said he was found by her husband Peter in the garden on Bank Holiday Monday while he was doing some weeding.
She said today: "We are very pleased to have him back, we have had him for 29 years so we were quite upset when he disappeared.
"He is so small, the chances of finding him were very very slim."
Though they're not known for their speed, Jim – brown-shelled and just four inches long – managed to make a relatively speedy getaway from his home.
Mrs Townend said that the small turtle was feisty in character and had it in him to be lively and quick.
Mrs Townend, who runs the craft centre, said she had been using social media and friends who live around Jackfield to appeal for people to keep an eye out for runaway Jim.
She said: "The worst part was not knowing if he had been stolen or if he had got out, whether he had enough food to eat.
"He's not lost any weight.
"I weigh all the turtles every year to make sure they are healthy so it looks like he must have found something to eat."
