by Susan Hilder

War medals and £200 cash were stolen from an elderly couple in Canterbury after a man claiming to be from the water board knocked at their door.

The man talked his way into the house in Miller Avenue telling the couple, who are in their 80s, that there was a problem with water contamination.

Police believe an accomplice stole the items while the couple were distracted by the man turning on the taps in their kitchen.

Four or five medals were taken during the burglary. One was a General Service Medal with a purple and green ribbon. It had a clasp engraved with the word Malaya and dated from the early 1950s.

Two other medals were for service in South Africa and one of those had the word Transvaal engraved on the campaign clasp.

DC Simon Clarke said: "This man told the couple there had been water contamination in the area and he needed to check their water supply.

"He went into the house and turned on the taps in the kitchen. We believe he had an accomplice working with him, who went upstairs while the couple were downstairs with the first offender, and the accomplice stole medals from upstairs and cash from the hallway."

The first offender is described as white, about 6ft, of an athletic build with medium-length, dark brown hair.

Anyone with information about the burglary, which happened Thursday lunchtime, or who has been offered medals of a similar description for sale is asked to contact police on 101 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime number ZY/13598/12.