A speedy pet tortoise, who went missing for more than a week and was almost hit by cars, has been re-united with his delighted owner by a Hornchurch woman.

Dorothy Edgeworth, of Rusholme Avenue, Dagenham, feared she would never see her ten-year-old tortoise Tich after he escaped from her garden on Sunday August 21.

But the curious creature was found by Julie Barnes, from Northend Road, as he was crossing Frizlands Lane, in Dagenham.

Julie said: “My husband and I were driving down the road when we saw him in front of us, heading across the road very fast for a tortoise.”

“We stopped and I jumped out and picked him up to make sure he didn’t get squashed by any other cars.”

A friend of Julie offered to look after Tich as she owns two tortoises herself and has a pen where he could stay.

Tich and Dorothy were re-united last Wednesday evening.

The 85-year-old said she was overjoyed to have her pet back: “I didn’t have much hope, so couldn’t believe it when I was told he had been found. I’m so happy he’s back home again. He’s running around the garden again and seems absolutely fine.”