The warning comes from a Local Policing Officer after several incidents where builders and self-styled trades people have called wanting to do work on the home or garden.

Police Constable Sean Bailey, the LPO for Church Stretton who has also been covering Bishop’s Castle, has investigated incidents where he believes the callers were either rogue traders or genuine workmen seeking to exploit older people by charging inflated prices.

His warning following one incident earlier this week where men called at the home of an elderly man in Bishop’s Castle quoting £4,500 to clean the roof – and then persuaded him to have a further £4,000 worth of work done on his property.

“Fortunately, when the gent attempted to withdraw the money from his bank, they smelled a rat and called the police, which was an excellent piece of community awareness on their part. The cheque has now been stopped.”

PC Bailey said: “In the last 12 months, we have had a few of these type of incidents in both Church Stretton and Bishop’s Castle. I’m sure it is happening elsewhere in the county too.

“I can recall one incident about a year ago when a company called at a property in Church Stretton offering to carryout some gardening work. The elderly woman agreed and was quoted over £3,000.”

He said the golden rule was never to allow strangers who come calling into the home or to accept offers of work on the house or garden.

“Don’t take a chance. If you need a job doing, then contact a local builder or trader. Make an appointment and ask for a quote before accepting. That way, when they call you know for sure they are genuine.”