A RELIEVED family is celebrating in Stretford after their pet tortoises Laurel and Hardy were returned from thieves.

A hue and cry was launched a fortnight ago after the seven year olds were taken from the Barton Road garden of Anthony and Elaine O’Shea.

CCTV images showed two men taking the pair, named after the famous comedy duo, before it was discovered that one of the reptiles is a female.

A search was launched for the missing pair, which included contacting reptile experts across the country, while their disappearance was circulated across all platforms of the social media with Facebook attracting thousands of shares among users.

Mr O’Shea also embarked on a series of fruitless leads and delivered thousands of leaflets appealing for their return across the area. As the pair were returned last Friday, Mr O’Shea had been planning to employ an animal detective to help in the hunt for the lost pair.

However, it was all resolved after a visit from an unknown male last Thursday, who called at the home of the O’Shea’s and claimed he knew where Laurel and Hardy were being kept.

“It is absolutely great news. Following a great feature in the Messenger Newspaper last week, a man who came to the door said he knew where they were being kept and he could return them for the reward and in return for his anonymity and the promise of ‘no questions asked’.”

“Ollie recognised me straight away whereas Laurel was a bit under the weather and feeling cold, so I put him on to heat pads and he is okay now. It was an emotional return and it was like getting our kids back. We celebrated their return with a glass of champagne.”

Since their return wellwishers have been sending messages of congratulation to the O’Shea family.

Elaine added: “This is a true indication of community spirit and people power, if everyone pulls together, anything is possible.

“We would like to say that everyone has been absolutely amazing, not only with good wishes and nearly 20,000 shares of the post but hundreds of private messages from all over including Devon, Cumbria and even Bulgaria.”