POLICE burst through the front door of an ill man in the early hours to pick up a wanted man.

But Dorset Police had the wrong information, and the resident needed medical attention for shock.

Trevor Woods of Medway Road, Ferndown, who spends his days volunteering and working for the good of his community, recently come out of hospital for a heart condition.

He had been up to tend to his dog, and at around 7am opened the door to investigate a noise outside when he said he was pushed backwards as 12 police charged in.

Trevor said: "The handle of the door on my side ripped off in my hand.

"They said sit down, sit down'. They threw me in the chair. They asked me about a person I didn't know."

Trevor, 61, asked police for permission to use his angina spray and the police called for an ambulance.

He was still so shaken, he was taken to hospital by ambulance in the evening and medics said he had suffered a severe panic attack.

"Their faces dropped when they realised it was a mistake and I had got a heart condition," he said.

"It could have been fatal. The community officer came around to check on me and make sure I was ok. If I hadn't answered that door, I'm sure it would have been smashed in."

Superintendent Garrick Smith, eastern division commander of Dorset Police, said: "I can confirm that officers from Poole attended Mr Woods' address.

"It became immediately apparent that Mr Woods was having difficulty breathing due to an existing medical condition and officers administered first aid and called for an ambulance.

"Once he had been attended to, the property was searched. The purpose was to locate a man who is wanted for recall to prison and other offences.

"Officers were acting on information received. Officers apologised to Mr Woods and it is unfortunate that he was affected in this way. No trace of the person wanted by police was found at his address."