A ₤ 1,000 veterinarian bill did little to improve the situation until Ryder’s mechanical engineer son Dale, 37, glued wheels from a design aircraft onto the turtle’s shell, making her twice as fast. Dale had gotten Mrs. T as a gift when he was 8 and she was already in her 60s.

” It was like fitting her with a turbo charger– she’s going double the speed she used to,” claimed Ryder. “Mrs T is still fairly young for a tortoise. She could go on for another 50 years– all she requires is a brand-new collection of tires now and again.”

Rat attacks on turtles are not unusual. Britain’s oldest tortoise, 130 year-old Thomas, died from a rat bite in 2013.