Binman saved tortoise from the rubbish dump

An Essex refuse collector rescued a tortoise after it was apparently thrown out with the rubbish.

Shaun Wilson saw its foot sticking out of a bin bag when he was collecting in Hakewill Way, Colchester, on Tuesday.

He said: "I thought it was a toy at first then I saw it move and realised the poor thing was real - and was very much alive."



Mr Wilson, who has a tortoise himself, contacted the RSPCA who said it had been since been found a new home. He said: "I can't believe that someone would just put it out with the rubbish."

RSPCA inspector Wendy Knowles said: "It looks as though this poor tortoise was just thrown out with the rubbish, although it may have escaped and crawled into the rubbish or have been hibernating and the owners thought it was dead and thrown it out.

"There is no excuse for anyone dumping animals - we are always happy to help people who can no longer look after their animals."