A suspected distraction burglar tried to barge his way into the flat of an elderly woman who had been robbed just a year before.

The man knocked on the 72-year-old woman's door in Burma Road, Hackney, at around 5pm on January 6.

When she answered, he claimed he was from the council and needed to come in because of a leak from the flat above.

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After the woman refused, he attempted to push past her and placed his foot in the door.

The woman screamed and pushed the intruder, who stepped back before she shut the door.

When the woman later spoke to her upstairs neighbour she found that there was no such leak.

Police were called but despite a search of the area the man could not be found.

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Detective Constable Simona Vaigauskaite said: "This was an incredibly frightening incident for the elderly woman, made all the worse by the fact she had been the victim of a similar offence just a year prior in which a group of men gained access to her home under similar pretences and stole her property.

"While the incidents are not being treated as linked, we are keen to identify the man pictured."

The victim described the male as white, around 5ft 6ins tall, around 50 years old, slim build, clean shaven.

The victim could not pinpoint his accent, but it was not English.

He was wearing a light brown or beige cap and jacket.

Anyone with information that could help police is asked to call 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 5690/6 JAN.