A TORTOISE that brings joy to the customers of a Furness pub has become an internet sensation after waking up from hibernation.

A video of Tommy, whose owner is Andrea Wilson, landlady of the Old Friends Pub, Ulverston, has had hundreds of views on Facebook.

After five months of slumber Tommy woke up a month early this year due to the mild winter. It was initially thought Tommy was a male tortoise but it has since discovered that 'he' is female.

“People have been coming to the pub just to see our tortoise, and have been asking us when she will wake up," said Ms Wilson. "The children also love feeding her. I think she should start getting a cut of the revenue!”

Tommy, whose favourite food is dandelions, enjoys cosying up by the pub fire, climbing stairs and roaming the garden.

“Tommy is quite a character," said Ms Wilson. "She is stronger and bigger than you'd think, and quite mischievous. She is sociable and I think she just enjoys the attention she gets from the customers.”

Still Tommy is not the only pub pet, as her best friend is an eight-year-old tabby cat called Max.

“They are really good friends, they often cuddle up together," said Ms Wilson. "Max is very friendly, and sometimes sits on customers’ knees, whether they’d like him to or not.

“I think one of the reasons why people come into the pub is the animals, as not everyone is able to keep pets.”

Mrs Wilson, who has had Tommy for 43 years, says the reptile has accompanied her on every stage of her life, from moving out of her parents’ house to getting married.

“Tommy was a Holy Communion present when I was eight years old," she said. "One of my grandparents gave me rosary beads and a prayer book but the other was not at all religious, so I got a tortoise!”

When she started running the Old Friends pub five years ago with her husband Graham, it was self-evident that Tommy would come along.

As the breed has alife expectancy of between 80 and 90 years, she will be around a long time to entertain customers.

For more information, visit www.oldfriendsulverston.co.uk/