JIM the tortoise was determined not to miss out when his owners went on holiday.

The 50-year-old decided he needed a break too and slow-footed it away from his specially-built compound in a garden.

Luckily he has now turned up – after being found by a neighbour crossing nearby Durham Road.

The Harbord family, of Wilpshire, have had Jim since 1966 and housed him in a 12ft by 6ft run, surrounded by a low fence in the garden of Simon Harbord’s home.

Jim had previously made a break for it from Simon’s parents’ home in Rutland, East Midlands, but was found in a neighbour’s garden.

Simon, 47, an engineer at BAE Systems, said: “He’s only been here since March, which is when my dad died and I inherited Jim.

"We didn’t realise he could climb onto the roof of his hut and then over the wall.

"But he was intent on exploring this time.

“When we got back and discovered he had gone I was worried because you hear about tortoises getting stolen because of their value.

“We looked in all of the local gardens and there was no sign of him.

"My wife put out flyers with pictures of him on and then a lady from five or six gardens away called to say she’d seen him crossing the road the day after we went away.”

The neighbour rang the RSPCA for advice and was told to take him to Myerscough College reptile centre, in Witton Country Park.

Mr Harbord, who has three children, John, nine, Henry, seven, and Ruth, four, collected the pet as soon as he heard.

He added: “The kids are over the moon. Jim has been in the family for about 45 years and we’re all extremely relieved to have him back unharmed.

"I’m now looking into the possibility of getting him micro-chipped in case he decides to go on his travels again.”

Animal care apprentice Becky Hodkinson said: “It was amazing to have the family get in touch.

"Now he is back where he belongs.”