YOUNG carol singers who "befriended" a 95-year-old man during the festive period later returned and stole money from his home.

Police say that five youngsters got to know the elderly resident of Eastchurch Road, Margate, and visited him several times.

After calling on him on Tuesday (January 4), the man found money missing from a pot kept in the dining room.

The following day three of the group returned, one with a slight injury to his forehead. The man invited them in to treat the wound and then confronted them about the missing cash.

A police spokesman said: “They blamed the two absent boys for the missing money. At some point soon after this, two of them grabbed the money pot and ran out of the house, followed after by the injured boy.

“The three boys then waved to the elderly man as they walked down the street.”

About £35 to £40 was stolen. Police are appealing for witnesses and information, telephone 01843 222033.