A PET tortoise which has been in the same family for 40 years has been stolen by burglars.

Herby was taken during a shed break-in at the family home in Sunderland.

Police are now appealing for information after the family were left devastated by the theft of the much-loved pet.

Chief Inspector Sarah Pitt said: "This burglary has had a massive impact on the owner as the tortoise has been in her family for more than 35 years”.

Herby was taken from a house in Crosslea Avenue at some point between 3pm on Monday (August 17) and 5.30am the following day.

An intruder forced their way through a side gate and took the animal from a shed in the back garden.

Nothing else was stolen during the incident, which police think might have happened at about midnight.

Chf Insp Pitt said: "An offender has forced entry into an outhouse and stolen the animal from the back garden of the property leaving the family completely devastated.

"We would ask neighbours and people living in the area to check their gardens to see if the tortoise has been dumped by the offender.

"Anyone with information about this theft is urged to get in touch and would also like to appeal to the thief to find it in their heart to return the animal to its owner."

Herby's owner said: "We are desperate to have Herby returned home to us as he has been in the family for as long as I can remember.

"All we want is for him to be returned to us safe and unharmed. This incident has left us really distressed and my mother has been particularly affected.

"I would just urge whoever stole Herby to bring him back to us. He has spent his entire life in our home and must be really frightened to be in such a strange place."

The animal is around a foot long and weighs approximately 7kg. It has a faint white line down the middle of its shell.

Anyone with information or who may have been offered the tortoise for sale is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191.