If you want to know if it's going to be sunny or wet for the next few days, take a trip round to see Tyndale the tortoise.
The tortoise has a knack of being more accurate than the weatherman - and better than any barometer.
When there's good weather on the horizon, he will come out of his hut, bask in the warmth and set up camp outside.
But if there's rain on the way, you won't see Tyndale, more than 50 years old, for dust.
Owner Devina Hardingham, of West Clacton, who was left the pet by her son, Marcus, when he left home, put forward the unlikely celebrity for star status after a plea over the airwaves.
Dave Monk, on BBC Essex, called for ideas on how to give a more accurate forecast than the weather teams on the television.
"One woman rang in and said her tortoise got up early if it was going to be fine but I told them that Tyndale can do better than that," said Mrs Hardingham.
Published Friday, May 30, 2003
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