A 90-year-old woman has been punched on her doorstep by a schoolboy thug, police said today.

The boy - aged between 12 and 14 - hit her after the pensioner answered the door to him around midnight yesterday.

The boy asked for food or money and when she said she didn't have any, he punched her in the face.

She was at home in her bungalow in the Chapel Lane area of Ripple near Deal, when her front doorbell rang.

The suspect is described as white, of average build and was wearing jeans.

He then ran off towards Chapel Lane.

"They are also available to advise residents on home safety issues such as using a door chain and keeping doors and windows secure."

"My neighbourhood officers will also be making a number of enquiries and would like to hear from anyone who may have private CCTV that shows anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time.

"It is extremely important that this individual is found as quickly as possible, so I would urge anyone with information about his identity, or anyone with any information at all to call Detective Constable Leigh Woolnough on 01303 289 220.

"Assaults will not be tolerated and my officers have already started an investigation, including carrying out house to house enquiries to try and identify the offender.

Dover District Commander, Chief Inspector Ken Elmes, said: "No doubt everybody will share my shock and anger at what has happened to this lady, but thankfully incidents of this nature are extremely rare.

Luckily, the lady was not seriously injured but has been shaken up by the incident.