Rogue traders warning

7:40am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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TEWKESBURY residents are being warned by police to ensure that any work carried out on their property is done by reputable traders.

The advice comes after an elderly couple from Fiddlers Green Lane in Cheltenham reported that two males, claiming to be from a roofing company, made an unsolicited call at their property and demanded that they pay £550 for them to carry out some maintenance.

The two men called at the property at 6pm on Saturday May 10 in a white or grey VW style van, with no writing on it. One man stayed in the car whilst the other visited the couple's home. After the couple refused to pay them any money the men left, but returned at 3pm asking them if they had been to the bank to get the money.

Once again the couple refused and the men left. They left behind a marketing flyer for the company with telephone numbers on it, which have transpired to be false.

The man who visited the property was described as white, 5ft in tall and wearing a grey and black T-shirt.

Police have reminded residents to use reputable companies for any work they have done at their property and advise that they use traders who have been recommended by word of mouth from friends, family and neighbours.

www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk is a useful website for checking Trading Standards approved traders in your area.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Gloucestershire Constabulary on 0845 090 1234 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.