CAMPAIGNERS and police today hit out at thieves preying on the elderly at a retirement complex in Dorchester.

The raiders have made the tearful pensioners' lives a misery by snatching eggs, milk, squash and bread from doorsteps at Christchurch Court in the Grove.

Now police have stepped up patrols and delivery firm Alington Dairy has taken action to stop its supplies from being stolen.

Pensioner Carol Oliver, who has lived at Christchurch Court since 1974, said: "I have had orange juice, milk, eggs and cranberry juice stolen.

"Some of the elderly find it difficult to get out and rely on the deliveries. They go out to get their deliveries, find there's none there and they can't get out to get any more."

She added: "It has happened quite regularly.

"People are very upset and angry."

Alington Dairy, of Glyde Path Road, Dorchester, has footed the bill and supplied new groceries for pensioners hit by the thefts.

Audrey Payne, a Christchurch Court resident and former warden, fears for pensioners opening their doors in the early hours to beat the thieves to the deliveries.

She said: "I tried to catch a thief once. I saw him creep towards the flat opposite, but he had gone by the time I got there."

She added: "Alington Dairy has been really good and has replaced the items. But it can't afford the losses forever and it is losing more money because some pensioners are getting their goods from town instead."

Wendy Hilton, chief officer of Age Concern in Dorchester, urged residents to call the police as soon as they saw anything suspicious.

She said: "A lot of pensioners rely on deliveries. They may be able to walk into town, but can't carry their bags home because the milk and goods are too heavy." A spokesman for Alington Dairy, of Glyde Path Road, said the company had 'taken measures to rectify the situation'.

Sgt Malcolm Davenport, of Dorchester Police, said: "We are aware of the situation and our inquiries are ongoing. It doesn't matter whether something is 40 or 50 pence, it is still a crime.

"We want to stop this anti-social activity and inconvenience to these people. There has been a similar situation in Manor Park and we will take the same action wherever this type of problem arises."