A TORTOISE who was mauled by a dog has been given a new lease of life with a little help from Lego. 

Seven-year-old Vince escaped from his Banbury home and was found with his front leg missing by neighbours.

He was taken to Vets4Pets in the Banbury Cross retail park where his owner Kara Paynton was told her pet might die.

The 33-year-old said: "Vince has a little cage outside and he escaped from there.

“I usually find him hiding under a bamboo plant, but I couldn’t find him anywhere.

“Two days later, I noticed a little tunnel under the fence leading into the next-door neighbours’ house.

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Vince now has a new lease of life. Picture: SWNS

“When I went to the vets I was told he was in a bad way and that his bone was exposed and maggots had infected the wound.

“I was told he would probably die, so I prepared myself for the worst."

Vets operated on the 13cm long and 10cm wide creature and saved his life by amputating his leg.

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Vince after his surgery. Picture: SWNS

But the procedure meant that Vince was barely able to walk.

Fortunately a nurse told Ms Paynton that she knew an engineer, Nathan Portlock-Allan, who could help.

Mr Portlock-Allan constructed a prototype foot out of a toy LEGO wheel which he attached to Vince with rubber bands.

Ms Paynton added: “It was custom-made so it fit Vince exactly.

“Nathan is going to make a permanent wheel to be fixed on with resin in the New Year so that Vince can walk on different types of terrain.

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“He’s getting on well with it on a flat surface at the moment. He seems to have got the hang out it now.

“The test will come when he’s more active in the warm weather as he loves climbing.”

Vince will not be hibernating this winter with his fello tortoises as vets will need to keep an eye on him to ensure he is healing from the surgery.