HOUSEHOLDERS in Teignbridge are being urged to be on their guard for rogue traders advertising for garden and maintenance work.

Police have issued an appeal following an incident at a property in the Teignbridge area where an elderly occupant was targeted by a man offering to do gardening work.

An initial quote for £700 turned into a bill for £1,700 once the work was completed.

The victim had called an 0809 number on a leaflet which had been put through the letterbox.

An Asian man, aged between 30 and 40, with tidy hair turned up driving a white, open back truck with a child, thought to be aged about seven.

The elderly victim believed the original quote was £700 so had to go to the bank to withdraw more cash.

On their return, a second man was inside the property and it was later discovered that cash was missing from a bedroom.

A police spokesman said: ‘We would like to ask members of the public to exercise caution when calling numbers left on leaflets advertising gardening and other maintenance works.

‘Residents are asked to be aware of this incident and that works carried out are often of poor quality and very costly.

‘Never invite or leave a stranger in your home.

‘If you need work carried out to your house or garden, speak to a family member or trusted neighbour before calling unknown companies or contractors and always obtain a written quotation.

‘If you feel pressured to hand over more money than first agreed, call the police.’

Anyone with information about the reported incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting log 338 of July 16.­