A FAMILY is warning elderly people to be on their guard against rogue roofers after an 80-year-old man narrowly escaped being charged £1,500 to fix just four roof tiles.

Darlington man John Landers was returning home from a walk when he was approached in the street by two men behaving in an “over-familiar” manner.

They asked to shake his hand before claiming they had completed work on his neighbour’s roof and had noticed four tiles missing from his.

The pair convinced Mr Landers to pay £1,000 for the replacement of the tiles – an hour-long job likely to cost no more than £150 with a reputable company.

They initially attempted to charge him £1,500 but agreed to lower their extortionate price after Mr Landers said it was too expensive.

When the pensioner asked for a lift to the bank to get the requested funds, his son Martin immediately became suspicious and persuaded his father to call off the work and contact the police and trading standards.

Martin Landers said: “My dad said he had felt really intimidated by them and felt pressured.

“He phoned me and asked me to take him to town and when he told me why, I told him under no circumstances give them the money.

“I went round to reassure him and by chance, they came back for the money but saw me and sped off in their van.

“They came back again a few days later and he told them he didn’t want the work doing and they shouted at him for calling the police.

“It was a very close call and we want to warn others – they’re not knocking on doors, they are approaching people in the street and acting as if they know you.

“My dad looks old and he is vulnerable, he was definitely targeted and he’s shaken up over it.

“It’s knocked his confidence as he has realised he probably wouldn’t have fallen for this as a younger man.”

The men were driving a white van and approached Mr Landers on Surtees Street on Tuesday, January 10.

The matter was reported to Darlington Borough Council’s trading standards department.

A spokeswoman for the authority said: “Rogue traders are unscrupulous and intimidating individuals who pressurise people into having work done that is often unnecessary, usually badly done and charged at extortionate rates.

“They prey on the most vulnerable in our community and think nothing of conning people out of their cash.

“The message is never agree to work that is offered as a result of a cold call.

“If in doubt, keep your door locked and keep the rogue trader out.”