A PENSIONER handed over hundreds of pounds to rogue traders, who left a trail of destruction behind them without carrying out the works they had promised.

Dolores O’Grady, 82, is warning others not to fall into the same trap, after forking out £500 to pay for her driveway to be cleaned and re-sealed.

Two men had approached her at her home in Manor Crescent, Hitchin, on Saturday and offered to carry out the works.

But the re-sealing was not carried out as promised, her driveway and garage was left in a mess, and the men have not returned.

Mrs O’Grady, who has had to clear her drive herself, has since attempted to ring a phone number on the side of the men’s van, but has found out it was bogus.

Speaking to the Comet this week, she said she wanted to warn people to be on guard.

“They lied to me. They had told me they put sealer on and they didn’t,” she said.

“It does something to your brain, it shakes you. I don’t want some people falling into the same trap.

“They told me they would make a great job.

“Have these people mothers, I wonder?”

Another resident in neighbouring Ninesprings Way was also targeted by the men.

David Everest, 83, handed over £400, after agreeing to pay £500. The men, who again left his drive in a mess, have not returned for the remainder of the money.

Mr Everest said they had approached him several times, after he initially turned them away.

“They’re scallywags after a quick buck,” he said.

“They left the job half done at the front, and I had to sweep up an awful lot of sand.”

Mrs O’Grady alerted police this week, and an officer visited her on Tuesday.

The case has now been passed to Herts Trading Standards and national investigators Action Fraud.

Trading Standards said it could not comment on the matter. Police also declined to comment, as the matter is no longer in their hands.