ELEVEN tortoises worth a total of £3,500 have been stolen from a Hampshire home.

The creatures were taken from the garden of a property in Mortimer Close, Calmore, while the owner was out.

A police spokesman said: “The creatures were in a pen in the back garden at the time.

It’s believed the thieves got in through a gate.”

The male and female tortoises, one of which was microchipped, were aged between six and 40 years old.

The thieves took six varieties – Dwarf Hermann, Horsefield, Leopard, Spur Thigh and Red Foot. They struck between 3pm and 6pm on December 20 but details have only just been released.