Tortoise in 300-mile recycling survival 'adventure'

The tortoise is thought to have been hibernating in papers put out for recycling

A tortoise believed to have travelled almost 300 miles in the back of a lorry was saved by Norfolk recycling plant workers moments before being pulped.

The animal is thought to have been hibernating in paper sent for recycling at a depot in Silverton, in Devon.

The paper was transported to a King's Lynn plant where workers found the tortoise while sorting the papers.

Mid Devon Council is searching for the owner of the tortoise, which a spokesman described as "intrepid".

"It would appear the tortoise must have been hibernating in a black box amongst paper put out for recycling," he said.

The animal was likely to have remained there for two days before being dropped from a height of 20ft (6m) into the lorry bound for the Norfolk plant, he added.

The distance between the two recycling plants is about 270 miles (435km).

"Following its big adventure, we are happy to say that the tortoise is alive and very well, and currently being cared for by one of the mill workers in King's Lynn," the spokesman said.

"We would really like to be able to complete the journey of this intrepid tortoise - which we think is a 'she' - by returning it to its owner."