Police helped reunite a giant tortoise with his owners after he travelled three miles from home.

The tortoise named Herbert was spotted at Longcroft Lane, Bovingdon by a concerned passerby who alerted police at 8.50pm on Monday, July 22.

Upon arrival, police officers found Herbert being held by a woman to stop it wandering off again.

The officers safely took the tortoise back to his owner in Hemel Hempstead.

PC Munn from the Berkhamsted Intervention Team, who saved the tortoise said: “The tortoise was found by a member of public in Longcroft Lane Bovingdon and had travelled about three miles from its home address.

“It initially had a tracker fitted to its back but that had been ripped off during its adventure. On my arrival the tortoise was being held by a lady to stop it wandering off again.

“In 18 years of policing, it’s the first job involving a tortoise giant or not.

“It was taken back to Hemel police station where it was kept safe and looked after by PS Pardy who is licensed to look after exotic animals.

“Due to the Facebook post, the owners were quickly located and the tortoise was back home.”