Fred the tortoise has been reunited with his playmate, Judy, thanks to the Evening Press.

Judy was left shell-shocked after Fred went missing from the garden of his York home.

Owner Patricia Otterburn returned home to Bishopthorpe Road to find the gate unbolted and only one of her two treasured tortoises in the garden.

Fred, a 17-year-old South African tortoise, had gone, leaving Judy, in her 60s, pining for her long-time pal.

Despondent Judy was even refusing to eat and was wandering around the garden, looking for her lost soul mate.

But now, thanks to our appeal in the Press last week, Fred and Judy are back together again.

A woman found Fred on Knavesmire and handed him to the RSPCA after reading our story in the paper.

It remains a mystery as to how Fred managed to saunter his way on to Knavesmire, or how he unbolted the garden gate.

Patricia said: "He can't have done it under his own steam."

But she is extremely grateful to the woman who found Fred and handed him in, without leaving her name.

"I am just so pleased to have him back," said Patricia.

"And Judy is delighted as well. She was really pleased to see him."

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