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Family's pet tortoise killed by seagull

Credit: Craig Watson/PA

A Liskeard woman has told ITV News West Country of the 'devastating' moment she found a seagull attacking her pet tortoise.

Stig and his brother George were both in the family's garden, where they spent most of their days happily munching on the grass and wild flowers. Jan Byrne, 43, said she returned from work to find a large gull "pecking a lump" in the garden. To her horror, it was her beloved pet, Stig.

We kept them in the garden by day as vets said it was best for them to roam free and eat grass. I came home to find a Seagull attacking Stig. He'd been flipped on his back and was being pecked so viciously. It was horrible - I was shaking with shock.

– Jan Byrne

Stig died from his injuries two days later. Mrs Byrne told us about the attack, which happened three weeks ago, after seeing yesterday's news story about a pet dog that had died after a seagull attack.

Mrs. Byrne says there is no evidence of any seagull nests at their property, but is concerned that litter and rubbish left on streets in the area has been attracting the gulls to come and look for food.