A family have been left shellshocked after their treasured tortoise legged it from their home in Devizes.

Owner Rowena Lansdown and her partner Lee Carpenter had fitted a tracker device to Darweena, their nine-year-old female tortoise, to keep tabs on her as she roamed around the garden in Avon Road.

They are mystified as to what happened to Darweena, last seen on Sunday.

Ms Lansdown, 43, said: “We have a tortoise-proof garden, we don’t understand it.

“Tortoises are terrible for roaming but this is the first time she has gone missing.”

Ms Lansdown said her children, Kai, 19, Jaye, 15, and 11-year-old Maisie, are heartbroken at Darweena’s disappearance and helped search on Sunday and Monday for any trace of her.

“They’re all really gutted,” she said.

Meanwhile Ms Lansdown and Mr Carpenter, 44, have been asking around neighbours, putting up posters and are offering a £50 reward for the return of Darweena.

Ms Lansdown said: “I have a friend in the police, I have spoken to the vets, we have searched the garden. It’s like losing a member of the family.”

The family’s other tortoise, a 10-year-old male called Otto, and two babies, Charles and Emma, are pining for Darweena.

Ms Lansdown said: “They are such characters, I have always loved tortoises. Otto has been roaming the garden, walking up and down the fence, which is even more heartbreaking.”

Anyone with information about Darweena should call (01380) 720684.