LOVESTRUCK romeo Thomas the tortoise is back.The 100-year-old gadabout has made a habit of eloping to secret trysts with a female tortoise when the lure of love entices him.
LOVESTRUCK romeo Thomas the tortoise is back.
The 100-year-old gadabout has made a habit of eloping to secret trysts with a female tortoise when the lure of love entices him.
He has gone missing every August for the past five years. On two of those occasions the amorous reptile has moved in with girlfriend Samantha half a mile away in Fen Lane, Forward Green, near Stowmarket.
But this time Samantha was spurned. His owner Roy Kerridge, said Thomas was found on the road to Creeting St Peter 1.5 miles away.
Mr Kerridge, who has been putting posters up in the area in the hope of finding him, said: "He is fine, was with a couple from Creeting, picked up by the side of the road.
"It's really good news. I suspect he was heading in a straight line for the bright lights of Stowmarket."
Thomas was brought to the UK by a returning First World War soldier, believed to be from the Mediterranean.
He passed through various owners before arriving at the Kerridge family home about 15 years ago, when they inherited him after a death in the family.
Apart from being a bit hungry, Thomas is fine and was yesterday reunited with the Kerridge family.
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