This is the adorable moment a pet tortoise pushed a gate open to escape – before his frantic owner carried him back inside.

The male African spurred tortoise named Plawaan nudged the sliding metal barrier with its head sending it rolling along the tracks outside the home in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on August 4.

Sensing that freedom was within reach, clever four-year-old Plawaan made a daring dash across the road outside.

However, the animal’s escape was thwarted when neihbours saw him wandering across the road and alerted the owner Looknam Sakaw, who came running outside.

CCTV footage from the detached home shows Plawaan’s escape before Looknam, a full time model, rushed outside and carried him back to the garden where he roams freely.

Looknam said : ‘At first I thought the gate opened because it was windy turns out it was my pet turtle Plawaan pushing the gate open with his head.’

‘This is not the first time Plawaan tried to escape, he does it whenever he gets the chance. I think he left that day because he was hungry, he would usually eat the grass in our garden but I had it cut. I normally lock the gate but when I forget, he would walk so far that our security guard had to carry him back home.’

Note: video has been sped-up. See Newsflare for original unedited.