A Scarborough pet shop owner is appealing for thieves who stole a tortoise from his store to return it immediately.

Dale Hick, who runs Peter’s Pet Shop in St Thomas Street, had the £100 animal taken on Monday morning when a group of men in their early 20s took it from the store.

If not given proper care it is likely the animal will die in a couple of weeks.

Police were called and are now examining CCTV footage to see if they can trace the men involved.

Mr Hick told his local newspaper, the Scarborough News, that the group caused a distraction to help them in their crime.

He said: “A group of lads came in dressed in shorts and T-shirts and I didn’t really think much of it.

“On the way out they knocked over a cage, to cause a distraction it seems, as when I had got it tidied away I noticed the tortoise had been taken.

“They probably saw the price tag and thought they might be able to get some money for it."