All-things tortoise will be the subject of a special charity afternoon at a North Walsham vet's next week.

Eastern Daily Press: Vet Faye Bethell at Toll Barn Vets, North Walsham, looks at the bladder stone in Ossie the tortoise's x-ray.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLYVet Faye Bethell at Toll Barn Vets, North Walsham, looks at the bladder stone in Ossie the tortoise's x-ray.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

Toll Barn Veterinary Centre, on Heath Road, is holding the event in aid of the Tortoise Circle of Friends (Norwich and Lowestoft) which helps care for and re-home tortoises who are lost, abandoned or who have outlived their owners.

Eastern Daily Press: Ossie the tortoise at Toll Barn Vets, North Walsham.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLYOssie the tortoise at Toll Barn Vets, North Walsham.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

The event, on June 21 from noon to 4pm, will see two vets and two nurses on hand to offer free health checks and advice to owners and would-be owners.

For £15 owners can get their pets microchipped and for £5 they will be wormed.

One of the practice's patients was Ossie, the 95-year-old female tortoise who was a lot happier and livelier after vet Faye Bethell removed an enormous bladder stone.

A tortoise eats grass, ferns, flowers, tree leaves and fruit.

They hibernate in winter and starve themselves beforehand so their stomachs are empty ready for the big sleep.

• For more information about the tortoise event contact www.tollbarnvets.co.uk/