VULNERABLE home owners are being warned to be on their guard after residents were approached by men offering to carry out repairs and then making outrageous demands for payment.

VULNERABLE home owners are being warned to be on their guard after residents were approached by men offering to carry out repairs and then making outrageous demands for payment.

A Tolleshunt Knights resident recently had some tarmac laid and was then threatened when he refused to pay the huge amount demanded.

Another elderly man in Heybridge, near Maldon, was approached by three men who said he needed work doing to his house. Although these incidents happened in the Maldon area, there have been similar incidents throughout Essex.

Maldon's district commander Chief Inspector Craig Robertson, said: “If anyone is approached by men offering to do house repairs or tarmacing, please refuse to engage them, make a note of any vehicles being used and let us know.

“Legitimate tradesmen don't normally canvass at the doorstep and anyone requiring work of this type to be done should find a reputable person to carry it out or use Yellow Pages.

“These men are extremely persistent and those who have fallen prey to their extortionate demands find the experience very distressing. They will keep returning, demanding, often in a threatening manner, hugely inflated sums for poorly carried out work. Sadly, they often prey on old and vulnerable people.”

Meanwhile, Essex Police is joining forces with Essex County Council Trading Standards to launch “No Cold Caller Zones” in the Maldon area as part of a drive to reduce doorstep crime.

The zones will be established in Latchingdon and Tillingham and are an extension of the Doorstep Initiative, which was set up four years ago.

If anyone has any information about the Maldon cases or any similar incidents, they are asked to contact Det-Con Colin Hill at Maldon Police on 01621 852255.