A vulnerable pensioner has been left shaken after a man who claimed to be selling Christmas cards came into her home and stole cash from her purse.

Severely disabled Jean Paterson, who is battling leukaemia, heard a knock on her door on Wednesday at around 2pm at her flat in Davie Close, Sheerness.

After answering he ran straight past the 83-year-old and into her bedroom.

He started taking Christmas cards and wrapping paper out of a black holdall and put them on her bed.

Mrs Paterson said when she went to pay him for one of the cards he said, “that will be £19”.

When she laid her purse on the bed to get more cash he snatched £50, which was her pension money, and fled.

The card was later taken away by police for fingerprint analysis.

She said: “My grandfather fought in two wars and he brought me up to be honest and I do help people.”

The partially blind widow had recently returned from hospital and feared the incident may have triggered an epileptic fit, which she is prone to suffer from when she becomes upset.

Friend Helen Harrison said: “Jean is a lovely person. If she wins two prizes at the bingo she always give it to someone else.

“I think it is dreadful that anyone could rob the elderly with the scams that go on today.”

Mrs Paterson lives in sheltered housing and it is unclear how the man was able to get through a secure front entrance, which requires either a key or a security code to open, and then get to her front door.

A neighbour said two men, one tall and thin, the other stocky in build, were selling items, including tea towels and cleaning equipment, claiming to raise money for charity on Wednesday afternoon.

He said they had ID badges around their necks.

The first suspect is described as being a tall white man of slim build in his 20s. He is described as being “jolly” and laughed a lot.

The second suspect is described as a white man around the same age and of stocky build. He is believed to be around 5ft 5ins tall with light brown or blond collar-length hair, wearing blue jeans and a brown coat with a furry collar.

Investigating officer Det Con Dave Evans said: “This was a deplorable distraction burglary of a vulnerable victim, leaving her distressed and confused.”

Anyone who recognises the descriptions or has any information is asked to call him on 01795 419265 or 07800 675352, quoting crime reference XY/040955/14, or to remain anonymous, call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.