The distraught owner of Fred the tortoise has expressed her gratitude at the care and generosity of Islanders.

Since we reported the tragic torture of Fred, a number of readers got in touch to offer rewards for information leading to conviction of the killer.

Including £500 from the Sheppey branch of the RSPCA, the current reward total stands at £750.

Fred’s owner, Joan Field, of Queensway, Sheerness, said: “I would like to thank everyone that has come forward and I am very grateful.

“I don’t know any of the people and it has surprised me the interest that has been shown.

“It’s overwhelmed me – but it’s still very hard at the moment as the first thing I used to do when I got home was go and see what Fred was up to, and I’m still trying to stop myself.”