An Exmouth woman is warning pet owners to be vigilant after thieves made off with her pet tortoise.

The woman, who does not want to be identified, says she and her husband returned to their home in the Phillips Avenue area, to find that their pet had gone.

The woman says that the tortoise, thought to be worth �300, was securely kept, and could not have got out of the garden by itself.

It is described as being very large, with a distinctive bumpy shell, rather than the normal smooth one.

Its owner is now warning other tortoise owners to be vigilant in case of similar thefts.

She said: “We had the tortoise for 25 years – ever since the day he came out of his shell.

“I’m worried about him because it’s hibernation time, and the people who have him might not know what they’re doing.”