TWO rare tortoises have been found crammed into a shoe box and pushed under the hedge of a park.

The pair were discovered in Horden Welfare Park, near Peterlee, County Durham, by a woman walking her dog on Monday and are thought to have been illegally imported.

One, which has been named Vicky and which measures three and a half inches from head to tail, is estimated to be two years old.

The other, Nicky, is about an inch bigger and is believed to be three years old.

Both are spur-thighed tortoises, a threatened species which, unless captive bred, cannot be traded.

RSPCA chief inspector Neil Mitchell, who is investigating the abandonment said: "Perhaps whoever dumped them got cold feet and decided to dispose of the evidence.''

He said: "They are both far too small to be kept outside at this age. They should be in a vivarium with a heat lamp to help them maintain their body temperature. Both would have died if they had gone undiscovered."

Any captive-bred tortoise of threatened species can only be legally sold with the appropriate documents.

To qualify for a breeder's certificate, the tortoise must have been bred from parents which themselves were bred in captivity.

A trader importing tortoises to the UK without the relevant documentation would be committing an offence.

Offenders can be imprisoned for up to two years and face an unlimited fine for importation and trading related offences.

Vicky and Nicky are now being cared for by an RSPCA inspector in Darlington.

Their discovery comes just days after another tortoise - Victor - was found wandering in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool.

But yesterday the RSPCA confirmed that Victor had, in fact, only wandered about 20 metres from home and has now been returned to the owners.

Anyone with any information about the two abandoned tortoises is asked to contact the RSPCA on (08705) 555999.