POLICE are investigating after a 78-year-old man was pushed to the ground by a burglar at his home in Newington Road, Ramsgate. Hours earlier the pensioner had opened his front door to a woman who said she was collecting for a Canadian children’s charity and he gave her a donation.

Later the same woman returned. She told him she was collecting signatures for a petition against asylum seekers. When he asked if she had called earlier, she denied it.

The woman then said her pen had run out. As the man went indoors to get another one, he saw a younger man run out of his kitchen.

The two men scuffled and the pensioner fell to the ground, cutting his eye. He ran after the couple, but did not see which way they went.

The woman is described as being 5ft 4in tall, in her mid to late 20s with mousy shoulder length hair. She was wearing a dark blouse or jacket and dark trousers, and had an identification badge on her lapel.

The man is around the same age and 5ft 8in tall. He was wearing a balaclava, but it revealed part of his face, which was unshaven. A police spokeswoman said:” We cannot stress how important it is to take care when answering the door to strangers. There are so many excuses people use to try and get into houses. If you are not expecting anyone, don’t answer the door to them.”