A woman is increasing the security around her house after a door-to-door charity fundraiser, who knocked late in the evening, spooked her.

Several residents in Lordswood and Walderslade echoed her concerns after fundraisers from animal welfare Blue Cross were cold calling in the area at around 8.30pm one evening.

According to the fundraising regulator charity workers are allowed to knock on doors until 9pm, but Tracey Reilly-Mannix, of Tuscan Drive, said the late visit made her uneasy.

She said: "It seemed a bit late and the guy asked a lot of questions about whether we have a dog or not. It seemed weird.

"He asked my name and then used it at least twice in the conversation. I kept the door closed as much as possible and told him we don't support Blue Cross.

"Then he started asking questions about the dog as he could hear him in the background. It just didn't sit right with me."

The incident has led Tracey, who has only recently moved to the area, to think about setting herself up more securely at home.

The 37-year-old store manager said:"We have CCTV cameras and a ring doorbell and security lights that we need to get fitted. I'm going to get that done asap now."

"I've been worrying about it. It's awful that we all feel so anxious about people knocking on doors. It shows you what kind of world we live in now.

"It makes you sceptical about whether or not they are genuine. I don't like the personal questions as it makes me question their motives.

"I don't think they should be allowed to go door to door personally.

"I know they have to try and make money but there are many ways people can donate to charity nowadays with the internet and social media without them having to come to your house.

"They definitely shouldn't be allowed to come after 6pm in the summer and 4pm in the winter, as it gets dark."

Tracey is especially concerned for her elderly neighbours, who are particularly vulnerable when they receive an unexpected knock on the door.

Spokesperson for Age Uk Medway Anna Stansell echoed her concerns.

She said: "Whilst cold calls aren't usually illegal and don't necessarily count as a scam, they can be annoying, frustrating and even frightening, particularly for older people, especially when they arrive late in the evening.

"At Age UK Medway we have calls from older people who aren’t sure about a cold call they’ve received - both on the phone and at the door.

"It really does unsettle and worry them and they tend to display anxiety around the cold callers potentially continuing to make contact.

"It can be hard to tell the difference between a scam and cold calling.They aren't always pushy and persuasive, they may seem polite or friendly."

Tracey was not the only person to be concerned about the visits.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I think it's completely unexplainable for people to knock on doors asking for money. Times are so tight for everyone.

"If you want to donate to charity then you should have the choice to do so, not to be pressured on the spot."

Another admitted she answered the door because she was expecting a parcel, and then wished she had kept it shut.

"I stupidly answered the door to them with my dog under my arm," she said: "I said I wasn't interested and shut the door.

"I was worrying myself sick over whether they were genuine or not, so I rang Blue Cross and gave them my postcode and they confirmed they were in my area. I was very anxious."

Emma Sword from Blue Cross said: "Our representatives are strictly regulated and abide by the Institute of Fundraising code of conduct which allows them to work between 9am and 9pm. Visits can be made up until 9.30pm but only if the appointment is agreed with the resident from a prior conversation.

"Fundraisers are also allowed to knock on doors up to three times in a day if they do not receive an answer. Fundraisers generally do call at houses in the evenings as this is when they would expect most people to be home.

"We take feedback about all aspects of our charity very seriously and welcome contact from supporters and members of the public. If people have concerns that a breach of the Fundraising Code has occurred or have any concerns about a Blue Cross representative they should call the charity’s Customer Care Team on 0300 790 9903 or email info@bluecross.org.uk so that we can quickly investigate and address the issue.

The charity also said door knocking and face to face fundraising is one of its most effective ways of recruiting new supporters and raise awareness of the cause.

But Emma admitted asking personal questions is covered by guidelines.

"It is incredibly important to us that our fundraisers act as knowledgeable ambassadors for our charity, as well as behaving professionally and courteously," she said. "Their conversation should not come across as intrusive in any way, and if a householder has a concern, we would encourage them to contact our Customer Care team."

The Fundraising Regulator, the independent regulator of charitable fundraising in the UK, confirmed there is a code of conduct and strict guidelines that must be followed, including the fact door-to-door fundraisers are permitted to operate between 9am and 9pm Monday to Saturday, and between 10am and 9pm on Sundays and public holidays. It clarified that depending on the time of year this could mean they could be operating when it is dark outside, athough they are advised to use their discretion when knocking and consider whether they may cause distress or anxiety to residents by knocking.

Age UK Medway have offered advice of ways to protect yourself and stay safe on your doorstep including putting a "no cold callers" sign on your door and setting up passwords with your utility companies for when they send someone round to your home,