Rogue gardeners demanded £800 from a pensioner for two hours' work - and then returned to undertake more 'repairs'.

Maurice Hampson, of Elwyn Grove, West Bowling, was duped into paying £200 for work done by gardeners in unmarked vans.

Police are now warning pensioners and householders not to entertain bogus gardeners promising to work very cheaply or for free.

Two men in a white van promised to tidy up Mr Hampson's garden for £90.

The disabled pensioner accepted but did not sign any agreement.

After working for a couple of hours, the men asked Mr Hampson, 67, for their money.

He told them he needed to go to the bank and they offered to drive him there. On the way, they asked him for £800.

He said: "Foolishly, I gave them £200 which was all I had drawn out from the bank.

"They said they would take that as a deposit and would come back the next day to pick up the rest.

"They also told me they would put sodium chloride (salt) on my garden to get rid of the weeds. I put that on my chips - they must think I'm daft."

Mr Hampson left a note on his door saying that he was not prepared to pay more.

He also complained to police who advised him not to pay anything.

Then on Friday another man claiming to be working for Bradford Council offered to repair Mr Hampson's path for free. He refused but the man said that he would get on with it anyway.

"I should have known better and told them to go away," said Mr Hampson. "Do not believe anybody when they tell you something is free."

The young man and a colleague from an unmarked green van, whom Mr Hampson recognised from the previous month, demanded "two-sixty" for the work, meaning £260

Mr Hampson flatly refused and told them to "sling their hook".

A police spokesman said: "Anyone who calls at your home saying they are from the local authority or from a business will carry identification on them.

"If someone gives you an apparently low quote for work, then check out they are from a bona fide company first before agreeing to any work taking place. It's unusual business practice to use a vehicle that isn't marked up in any way.

"If you feel intimidated or they won't go away, then contact the police straightaway."