A TORTOISE is pining for its sweetheart -- stolen from a garden centre.

And now the manager at Stephen H Smith's in Radcliffe, is making a plea for the return of the tortoise which was one of two which disappeared last Saturday as staff served customers.

Both the Herman tortoise, worth £250 and the Leopard Mediterranean, worth £200 are around three years old and had only been in the shop for a month.

Manager Darren Kwee said he was concerned for the Leopard because it needed to be kept in a warm environment.

And he revealed that the remaining tortoise at the centre, a five-year old-male, spurred thighed Mediterranean breed is pining for his lost pals, the female in particular.

Mr Kwee said: "He had taken quite a shine to one of them and we clearly see that he is missing her.

He added: "I would urge the thieves to give the tortoises back to us or return them to the police. They are only young and need to be looked after properly."