Bertie, the 'Usain Bolt' of tortoises, breaks world record

The tiny tortoise's time of 19.59 seconds was more than twice as fast as the previous record. Credit: Guinness World Records 2016

The "Usain Bolt of the tortoise world" has shot into the Guinness WorldRecords Book after it smashed the previous record to become the fastest in the world.

Bertie, a young Leopard tortoise, left crowds shell-shocked by speeding across the finish line of an 18ft uphill track in less than 20 seconds.

The tiny tortoise's time of 19.59 seconds was more than twice as fast as the previous record of 43.7 seconds - set by a tortoise named Charlie back in 1977.

Bertie set the new world record when he rocketed up the wooden track at Adventure Valley theme park in County Durham, and has now received official Guinness World Records recognition with the launch of the 2016 book.

Marco Calzini, owner of Adventure Valley, said: "I'm so proud of Bertie to have made it into the Guinness World Records book, he is a superstartortoise.

Marco Calzini, owner of Adventure Valley, has said he is Credit: Adventure Valley

Since breaking the record, Bertie now lives in a VIP enclosure at AdventureValley with his girlfriend called Shelly.

Fact file:

  • Bertie is a Leopard Tortoise.

  • Leopard tortoises typically live to 80 - 100 years old.

  • It is believed Bertie is a fairly young tortoise though his age is unknown.

  • They are the fifth largest species of tortoise in the world, with typical adults reaching 18-inch (460 mm) and weighing 40-pound (18 kg).

  • As a breed they are native to Southern Africa.

Bertie's speed was first spotted by Adventure Valley workers when he was donated to the theme park four years ago by an emigrating family.