FASTER than a speeding bullet he may not be, but one ageing tortoise has proved that as in the fable of the hare and the tortoise, it is cunning that wins in the end.

Timmy the 43-year-old tortoise, who lives in Heron Close, Buckhurst Hill, has spent his life running away from home, outsmarting owners Don and Iris Lewis on no less than five occasions.

Fearless Timmy has danced with danger and faced death during his escapades, each of which has been more unbelievable than the last.

The much-loved pet has just returned from his latest flirtation with adventure.

He escaped his pen three weeks ago and was found by a man and his daughter crossing a horse path in the forest behind the Lewis's home.

Timmy's first escape was in 1963, when he took on a double-decker bus and emerged the winner.

Mrs Lewis said: "We were living in Chingford Hatch. A neighbour came round and asked if we had seen the traffic in Chingford Lane. Traffic had stopped behind a bus and the driver had to get out because Timmy was in the road and he had to move him."

The second time was in 1972 when the family were living in Chigwell.

Timmy escaped across a railway embankment and was gone for nine months, hibernating in a neighbour's garden. On the third occasion, about six years ago, he was found by a dog which spotted him and barked until someone came to help.

The fourth time was Timmy's closest brush with death.

Mr Lewis said: "There were men working on a horse path through the forest by the river. A JCB driver was going to dig up the scoop and they thought they saw a rat. When they looked closer it was Timmy."

Mrs Lewis added: "They brought him home in the JCB, riding up the front.

"You have to keep tortoises penned up. They're very strong. This time he had to push over a load of stones to get out."

But despite the drama the Lewis's are still very fond of their adventurous pet, who was a present to their son David on his fourth birthday.

He was bought by an aunt from Walthamstow Market for five shillings. The family have now owned him for 43 years, though they believe he was an adult when they bought him.

In a concession to make life easier they have etched their telephone number on the back of Timmy's shell. Now when he goes missing, anyone who finds him will know where to call.

Mr Lewis said he noticed similarities between each of Timmy's escapes and offered a theory as to why the tortoise keeps disappearing.

He said: "He always turns left at the end of the garden. Perhaps it's a homing instinct. It's like he has an eight-year itch, and goes missing.

"I suppose that's all he's got to do all day in his pen, think of how to escape."