Tortoise forecasts the weather

Devina Hardingham, 58, from Clacton, Essex, with her pet tortoise

A woman has described how her tortoise is the best weather forecaster - easily beating television pundits.

Devina Hardingham, 58, of Clacton, Essex, said Tyndale the tortoise was the best predictor of rain she knew.

"Tyndale lives on our lawn and has a little shelter he goes into," said Mrs Hardingham, who is retired and lives with her husband Roger, 63.

"If rain is coming he goes into the hutch. It can be bright sunshine and suddenly he will go into the hutch, and within half an hour or so it's raining.

"He's always been able to do it. We've had him for 35 years - he belonged to my son, Marcus, who is now 38.

'More accurate than forecasters'

"It's something he's always done and he always seems to be right.

"He's more accurate than the TV weather forecasters and if we are going to have a barbecue or anything we don't worry what the weathermen say, we just go and watch Tyndale and if he's happy outside on the lawn, we know the weather's going to be fine.

"I suspect it's something to do with the fact that tortoises like heat and he senses some change in the atmosphere.

"It's just always been something he's done."