Animal lovers will be able to see more than 30 tortoises looking for a new home at a special open day.

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk Tortoise Club will be hosting an open day to help owners. Picture: Norfolk Tortoise clubNorfolk Tortoise Club will be hosting an open day to help owners. Picture: Norfolk Tortoise club (Image: Archant)

Norfolk Tortoises Club is hosting the open day in Hethersett, which will showcase tortoises looking for a new home and health check ups.

The day is to help people who own tortoises or are thinking about getting one with information and expert advice on how look after them.

Eleanor Tirtasana, events coordinator, said: 'With an increase in availability and in turn popularity, pet tortoises are making a big revival in the hearts of homes throughout the UK and Norfolk is no exception.

'For the past 10 years we have steadily seen an increase in tortoises needing homes with 2017 reaching a staggering 92.'

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk Tortoise Club will be hosting an open day to help owners. Picture: Norfolk Tortoise clubNorfolk Tortoise Club will be hosting an open day to help owners. Picture: Norfolk Tortoise club (Image: Archant)

Not only is the open day informative but there will be more than 30 tortoises who are needing a new home including 60-year-old Lily who is partially blind due to frost damage and a diet lacking extra calcium supplements.

Animal lovers will be able to meet giant and baby tortoises, shop at stalls and youngsters can take part in games and a bouncy castle.

The UK saw a complete stop in wild tortoise sales in the early 1980s. This was due to the damage it was doing to natural populations as well as the high numbers believed to perish due to lack of knowledge and poor transport methods.

Norfolk Tortoise Club has been running since 2002, working to improve the welfare of tortoises in captivity with more than 500 members. The club is run entirely by volunteers.

Miss Tirtasana added: 'This annual event allows experienced experts to share knowledge and help owners prevent potential problems and help tortoises thrive in captivity.

'Although it is wonderful more people are able to own these fascinating creatures, problems can often arise from varying care information.

'This is why Norfolk tortoise Club offer an open day for information, advice and support to owners and those interested every year.'

The open day is taking place at Hethersett Village Hall on Sunday, July 1 from 10am till 3pm.

Entry is £2 with free entry for children.

For more information go to www.tortoiseclub.org