THE daughter of a pensioner who was conned out of £100 by rogue tradesmen wants to warn others not to fall victim to the scam.

Peter Beckett, who lives in Avonmead, was out tending to his front garden on Bank Holiday Monday when he was approached by a number of men in a truck offering to help out.

His daughter Shirley Jefferies, 58 said: “Dad must have looked like he was struggling with it and they stopped and asked if he needed help.

“He told them he had a bad leg from where he has cancer and it just seems like they weaselled their way in. Dad trusted them and even took them inside his house to talk about what he needed done.”

The men offered to help 86-year-old Peter by hiring a rotavator to carry out the work - but at a cost of £100.

Unsuspecting Peter, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year, accepted the gesture of good will and waved off the men with the £100 believing they would return the next day.

But as Shirley explains, her dad was left feeling foolish when they never came back.

“All he was trying to do was sort out the front of his house but since finding out [about the cancer] he struggles,” she said. “He likes to do everything his way and it is very hard when you have always been so independent to give up something you like to do.

“I said we would give them the benefit of the doubt because you never know. But they never came back and while he feels foolish he doesn’t want it to happen to anyone else.

“There are a lot of older people in the Greenmeadow area so I think these men are going around and if they see someone out working they’ll try their luck.

“Dad would have never been so trusting before the diagnosis but now he’s ill, he is more vulnerable and he is doing things out of character.

“He is such an independent man and does things for himself so it took a lot for him to accept help and then they took his money and trust which is a bigger blow.

“Dad feels stupid but he wants other people to be aware.”

Luckily Peter’s eagle-eyed neighbours took down the truck registration number which Shirley was able to pass on to police who are investigating the matter.

A spokesman said: “We are not aware of any other cases like this in this area.

“However rogue traders operate everywhere.

“If anyone heard or saw anything suspicious in the area call us on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Police have also issued the following advice to homeowners:

• Not sure? Don’t open the door.

• Check the identity of the doorstep caller by telephoning the company they are purporting to be from. Use telephone numbers listed in your local directory or provided independently by your service provider.

• Check whether traders are members of the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme or the Government Trust Mark scheme.

• Discuss any work you feel needs carrying out on your property with a relative or friend who can help you find a reputable trader.

• Don’t agree to any work or sign anything on the spot. Do not be pressured into having any work carried out.

• Never pay cash up front and never go to the bank or cash point with a trader.

• If you suspect a rogue trader is at your door then call 999.

People should visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk to find a list of trusted traders in their local area.