A tortoise has been found dead with a smashed shell in the grounds of a south Essex church in what could have been "suspicious circumstances".

The RSPCA is appealing for information after the tortoise was found with the smashed shell in the grounds of a church in Hockley.

The grisly discovery was made by a member of the public who contacted the animal charity after they found the body of the tortoise at St Mary’s Church, Rectory Road, on Wednesday September 20.

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An RSPCA officer attended the location where she found the tortoise which had a large part of its shell missing.

It is thought the tortoise had been dead for some time as inside the shell there were maggots and the internal organs appeared to have been predated.

Animal rescue officer Enola Evans said: “We are unsure as to how this happened, but one possibility is that it could have been in suspicious circumstances.

“Therefore we would urge anyone who might have any information in regards to what happened to the tortoise to call the RSPCA in confidence on the inspector  appeal line 0300 123 8018 quoting incident 01156562”

The tortoise was not microchipped.