Love-hungry tortoises burn house down in the UK

Two mating tortoises have been blamed for starting a devastating house fire.

Henry the tortoise was on his way to meet his girlfriend Alice after waking up from hibernation when he accidentally knocked over a heater which in turn set fire to some wood shavings in pensioners Alf and Gayner Clayton's home in Stockton-on-Tees, north east England.

Fortunately for homeowners, they managed to escape their abode unscathed, but Henry and Alice perished in the blazing inferno.

The fire also destroyed the couple's conservatory and damaged their garage and car.

Alf told the Evening Gazette: "Henry had woken up and was trying to mate with his partner.

"He always was a bit of a one and had chased her around and must have knocked the heater over."