Vintage 1950s Merrythought Ladybird/ Tortoise - Wheels

This is a really unusual vintage (1950s) Merrythought creature.

He is known as a tortoise, but appears to be wearing a ladybird costume? I have carefully replaced his felt as the original was totally moth eaten and shot, but the same colours and spot pattern

He also has wheels and a little string to be pulled along by

Made by Merrythought so excellent quality

He has a few marks on his velvet body, which i think are old glue marks from when he was made?

Measures- 28cm long