Staff at a children's farm have spoken of their relief after two tortoises who were stolen last week were returned home.

Okey Doke, 7 and his lady friend Lucky, 40, were snatched from their pen in the children's farm in Holyfield, on July 6.

Desperate staff appealed via the Epping Forest Guardian to get the popular duo back.

Happily, a member of Lee Valley Park Farm staff found the pair left under a flowerpot by a member of the public on Tuesday morning(July 21).

They were found by friends Kristine Hardy and Tina Hammond from Loughton on Monday 20 July in Buckhurst Hill.

The tortoises were discovered in a flower pot which had been discarded by some wheelie bins.

Miss Hardy remembered reading about the missing tortoises and returned them back home to the farm.

Now the two are happily back with their friends at the farm and are once again meeting young visitors.

Farm Manager Emma Davies said staff were delighted to have them back.

"We were pleased to hear that they were found together as they have been soul mates for two years now and are rarely apart.

"They seem pleased to be home and are now fully recovered. We are extremely grateful to Kristine and Tina for finding them.

"We didn't honestly think we would see them again and they are so popular with the children.

"They seem okay, they're not particularly fazed by their adventure, but we are keeping them out of general sight until their pen can be changed to stop people helping themselves."

She thanked the Epping Forest Guardian for it's help in getting the tortoises returned.