Runaway tortoise takes a mile-long journey through town

Image caption, Tommy the tortoise travelled for more than a mile across a busy town before being found

A 60-year-old tortoise has been found safe after it went on a mile-long journey through its local town.

Tommy, who's owners live in Selkirk in Scotland, made his way across at least three busy roads, through a town centre and over a footbridge.

Thanks to a post on social media, Tommy was recovered and returned home safely.

His owner, Cathryn, is currently putting up a bigger wall around his pen to stop him from escaping again.

Image caption, Cathryn with runaway tortoise Tommy

Tommy's great escape

Tommy went missing on Sunday evening, when Cathryn realised he was not in his pen.

She posted on social media, asking for people to look for him. The next day, she got a message from someone who had seen him walking outside a nearby nursing home.

The nursing home was on the other end of town, and Tommy would have had to make it safely across several busy streets. He might have even crossed over a footbridge.

Image caption, Bring in the reinforcements: Cathryn and her husband Michael are rebuilding Tommy's pen to keep him safe

Cathryn has been looking after Tommy for 40 years, and says he has only tried to escape a couple of times before this summer.

He must have been familiar with the territory - he was found a short walk from his previous breakout locations.

Image source, Gordon Brown/Geograph

Image caption, Cathryn thinks Tommy might have made it to Scott's Place in the town centre

The world's oldest tortoise

Tortoises are known for their long lifespans. Although on average they live to around 60 or 70 years, some tortoises survive for over 100 years.

Jonathon the tortoise is currently over 190 years old. He holds the title for the world's oldest known living land animal.

Although we don't know his exact age, experts reckon he was born way back in 1832.

Video caption, Jonathan the tortoise turns 190!