AN elderly woman was scammed out of £1,500 by cold callers who offered to clean her gutters.

Police are investigating the incident, which happened in Brotton, in east Cleveland, on August 10, and are warning other residents to be on their guard against rogue traders. 

Officers say cold callers visited an address on Child Street and offered to clean the guttering for a small amount.

"They then told the lady that she needed roof work doing and charged her around £1500 – significantly more than the suggested work should have cost," said a spokesperson for Cleveland Police. 

Detectives investigating the incident are appealing for aynone who may have seen a work van in the area between 1pm and 4pm that day to come forward.

They are also asking people to check any private CCTV footage they have of the area. 

The investigation is being led under the banner of Operation Strongbow, a specific operation to target bogus callers and distraction burglaries.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.