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Two charity swindlers have been labelled "pure evil" after collecting cash in pubs in the Deal area while claiming to be fundraisers for the Pilgrims Hospices.

The young women visited The Telegraph on Saturday evening and told customers that they were taking part in a horse riding event for the charity.

Alan McGlashan, landlord of the Telegraph Road pub, said: "They had forms with the Pilgrims Hospice on the top and asked me if it was okay to speak to my customers.

"I gave them £10 and after they left someone noticed their handbag was missing. I became a bit suspicious and then someone found the bag empty outside the pub. Then I had a really bad feeling and thought maybe it was a charity scam."

Mr McGlashan rang a fellow landlord at the Cambridge Arms and was told the two women were inside the Dover Road pub, asking for money.

He added: "I drove over, confronted them and asked them for their charity ID. They said it was in their car, but then tried to drive away.

"I put my hand through the window to grab the ignition key but they trapped my arm. They sped off, hitting a parked car nearby."

Mr McGlashan managed to grab one of the women's sponsor forms for the ˜horse riding charity event and found a variety of pubs listed, as well as names and addresses of people pledging money. He reported the incidents to the police.

"I have heard of people doing scams, but these two were preying on people's goodwill. This was just pure evil."

Pilgrims Hospice fundraising manager Karen Kenwood said the charity did not have a sponsored horse riding event planned.

She said if anyone was in doubt about collectors, ring Pilgrims Hospices on 01843 233934 or visit www.pilgrimshospices.org and click onto what's on.