An Ottery animal lover has been reunited with her beloved tortoise – but not before its saviour treated it to lunch.

Chrissie Hansford put out an appeal in the Herald and online to track down her reptile, Daphne, after she went missing nearly two weeks ago.

Ottery resident George Grogan spotted the slow-moving stray strolling along the road up Tip Hill, but was unaware that the search was on.

He attempted to track the tortoise’s owner down on Facebook, but in the meantime he took her to Exmouth, treating her to a trip to the seaside and a nutritious bite of broccoli to eat.

George then learned of Chrissie’s appeal and returned the Greek spur-thighed tortoise to her rightful owner.

The 40-year-old had raced from her Knightstone Lane garden, covering almost a mile before she was found.

Chrissie said she was heartbroken to lose her, as she was given to her by a friend after her own tortoise, which she had had since she was a child, died.