Pensioner Peter Butterworth is searching in vain for workmen who charged him £1,800 to resurface his driveway.

The 69-year-old from Sandy Lane agreed to have the work done in December 1998 after a doorstep visit from Hargreaves and Son.

"This chap came to the door and said he was doing work in the area and asked if we wanted the drive asphalting," said Mr Butterworth. "He gave me his business card which gave an address in Nelson, Lancashire, and said the work was all guaranteed.

"He quoted me a price and I agreed and he told me he would come back the next week."

But he says he now has problems because parts of the surface are crumbling away and sinking - and he can't get in contact with the firm.

"It looks a real mess in places and I want them to come back and re-do it," he said.

"But all I have is a mobile number on the card and every time I phone it they answer then put the phone down because my number comes up on their phone.

"I have been trying to get hold of them for about three months without any success and I don't know what to try next."

The address on the business card was Rushton Close, Nelson, but no firm or individual called Hargreaves was listed by directory inquiries.

The operator said someone with another surname was listed but the number was ex-directory.

Mr Butterworth was give a receipt signed by the owner, C Broderick. His name was not listed in Nelson by directory inquiries either.

Rights & Wrongs phoned the mobile number and talked to a man who said his name was John.

He said he worked for Mr Hargreaves who was not there. "He just leaves his phone in the wagon," he said. Asked where Mr Hargreaves was, he said: "I don't know - I only see him in the mornings. He has just moved to Colne but I don't know where."

We left a message with him asking Mr Hargreaves to contact us.

A West Yorkshire trading Standards spokesman said: "It's the old story - if you're going to deal with people on the doorstep, you have to accept you are taking a chance.

"Unfortunately the complainant didn't get any second quote and there is no written contract so all he can do is to give him the opportunity to put it right and try to sue him if he doesn't - but it's unlikely he will get any money back."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.