Daisy the tortoise returns after four-and-a-half week adventure in Occold

An Occold family has been reunited with its pet tortoise – after it went missing for four-and-a-half weeks.

Daisy, a male tortoise, who has been a part of the Clark family for 48 years, vanished from his Mill Road garden on August 12.

Sarah Clark, along with parents Ralph and Val who own Daisy and the rest of the family, searched the whole village, knocked on doors, put up posters, posted on village Facebook groups and even joined The Norfolk Tortoise Club Facebook page in order to locate Daisy.

Mrs Clark said: "My parents had him before I was born and he was a gift from my nan and grandad.

"Its a long time to have a pet and for him to just disappear and not knowing where he was, or if he was OK was so upsetting."

The family were getting contacted by numerous people from across Suffolk even when they were on holiday in Greece, as it seemed other people's tortoises were also going walked about, but none of them were Daisy.

Mrs Clark said: "Daisy was due to go back into his hibernation box for winter so I thought I would have one more attempt on social media asking for the people of Occold to check their gardens again.

"The response was great but still no Daisy."

But last Sunday, when the family had all but given up hope of finding him, a mother and daughter said they had found Daisy, 50 metres from the house, rustling around in undergrowth at Occold park.

"I know people may think 'oh its only a tortoise' but a few tears of happiness were shed. Daisy was home where he belonged," said Mrs Clark.

“As a family, we would like to say a massive thank you to everyone. It felt like the community really came together to help us achieve a happy ending.”

Since being back Daisy has been checked over by the vets and microchipped, just in case he decides to go on any another adventures.