Knebworth missing 80-year-old tortoise reunited with owners

Twin is back with her owners, with a little help from John (second from right) - one of the Network Rail workers who found her

An 80-year-old runaway tortoise has been reunited with her family after being found by railway workers.

Lizzie Jeanes said Twin escaped from her pen in their garden in Knebworth, Hertfordshire, eight months ago.

She was found by the side of a track by Network Rail workers.

Ms Jeanes said she had been with her wider family for seven decades and was "greatly missed" before being reunited with them with help from a Facebook post.

Twin lives with Joey, and is the boss of the relationship, Lizzie Jeanes said

She said "it was horrible" when they discovered she had broken free from her pen.

"Everyone had looked after her for 70 years and I'd managed to lose her and I didn't want to tell the person who originally owned her, and is still alive, that I had lost her precious tortoise that she'd entrusted with me," said Ms Jeanes.

Connie, Lizzie and Charlie are very happy that Twin is back home with her mate, Joey

After months of searching for her, she said only her children, Charlie, 10, and Connie, eight, "still had hope".

They were reunited with Twin after a neighbour alerted them to a Facebook post from a local cafe saying a tortoise had been found.

"It was like all our Christmases had come together," Ms Jeanes added.

Three Network Rail workers, including John, made sure the pet's home was found

Twin, who normally lives with Joey, was found in May by three Network Rail workers on the side of the track while they were carrying out routine inspections.

They took her to the vets and cared for her overnight until her owner was found.

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Ms Jeanes said that Twin was "the adventurous one" of the pair.

"She will try and escape; she will explore," she said.

Both pets were now due to be micro-chipped.

"She's been around as long as the Queen's been on the throne," Ms Jeanes added.

Twin "loves playing with people" Ms Jeaves said