A MUCH-LOVED pet tortoise which had belonged to a family for nearly half a century has died.
Jean Icke, 81, and her husband Les, who passed away recently, had looked after Charlie at their home in Wolverham for 47 years.
But the tortoise went missing in April, only a few days after he came out of his annual hibernation.
Mrs Icke and her grandchildren put several posters up in local shops and schools, and last week the Pioneer reported their appeal for help and offer of a £50 reward.
As a result of our story a nearby resident contacted the family to inform them she’d found the tortoise and handed it into a vets practice.
After speaking to the vets, Mrs Icke’s daughter Carol Moir learned that Charlie had died within a few days.
She said: “Within a few hours of escaping he was found by a lady trying to cross the road at the top of mum’s street.
“I managed to speak to a nurse and then the practice manager who advised that Charlie had been very poorly and died within a few days of arriving.”
Mrs Moir thanked the Pioneer for the article and also those who had telephoned her.
