ONE minute he was there and the next month he was gone . . .

Mr Shell the tortoise, come home — that's the plea of a Yelverton family, who are badly missing their pet.

His owner, Della Barbour, whose home is near St Paul's Church, said the family are used to Mr Shell wandering off for long periods of time but are now worried for his safety and are appealing to anyone in the Yelverton area who comes across the fleet-clawed reptile.

Tortoises are naturally reclusive creatures and with plenty of vegetation for him to eat there is a good chance Mr Shell can survive.

Della told the Times: 'He's been missing since June. We have a large garden.

'Mr Shell has ventured off before but he always comes back. He can sometimes go for a week before he suddenly reappears but this time he has not returned.

'For a tortoise he is pretty quick on his feet and by now he could be anywhere.

'If you have any information please let me know. '

Mrs Barbour is not the only one missing the roaming reptile — so are her children, whose ages range from 9 to 21. The tortoise has been with the family for 20 years.

Perhaps the one who would love to see Mr Shell the most is his best friend and fellow testudinidae, his lady friend, Ivy.

Della, who is a practice manager for a veterinary clinic in Plymouth, said: 'Although he does not hibernate, because he is a little underweight, when I am at work I keep him in a vivarium.

'With the weather getting colder it is vital Mr Shell is found soon.'

Mrs Barbour can be contacted on 077323 60913.