Train service halted to rescue injured giant tortoise on the tracks

By Ed Cullinane via SWNS

Train services had to be stopped to rescue an injured giant tortoise that had strayed on to the tracks.

Clyde the tortoise was spotted walking the rail line to the disbelief of railway workers.

The pet was seen northeast of Thetford, Norfolk, UK, on the Cambridge-bound line on 08/01.

Four rail lines were affected - with two trains being terminated early and another starting 20 minutes behind schedule.

The 2.5ft lumbering giant was spotted by a passenger on the 11:22 a.m. train from Ely to Norwich, who raised the alarm.

She told the BBC: "I tried to tweet Greater Anglia, but I'm not sure the message got through.

"When we got to Norwich station I told staff in the office there, and the man looked at me as if I was mad - and then a police officer came along and said he'd seen my tweet."

A Greater Anglia spokeswoman said: "We are sorry for the disruption caused to customers between Norwich and Cambridge this afternoon.

"This was due to a very large, injured tortoise on the line near Harling Road.

"Network Rail attended and helped the animal. Services were able to run from 13.25."

The incident amused many on Twitter, with one user posting: "The tortoise does his bit to support the rail strikes. 'Unfortunately, he's a bit slow."

Clyde was reported missing by his owners on Sunday, and has now been taken to a vets.