Neighbours rally to help elderly crime victim

KIND-HEARTED neighbours got together to restore an elderly lady s garden after rogue traders dug it up. A residents association in Stevenage Old Town swung into action after the lady, who is in her 90s, was targeted by the dodgy workmen. The lady, who wi

KIND-HEARTED neighbours got together to restore an elderly lady's garden after rogue traders dug it up.

A residents' association in Stevenage Old Town swung into action after the lady, who is in her 90s, was targeted by the dodgy workmen.

The lady, who wishes to remain anonymous, was approached in the street and harassed into having work done to her chimney.

The men took around £3,000 from her after escorting her to three banks, and then told her that her driveway and front garden area was a mess.

They proceeded to start the work, digging up the area in front of her house and dumping the rubbish in the street.

After neighbours became concerned about the workmen and called police, they were scared off, leaving the garden dug up.

Horrified by the situation, the woman's neighbours then decided to get together to repair the damage.

Charles Hawkins, chairman of the residents' association, said: "We have a pretty strong residents' association.

"One phone call round and everybody said 'wouldn't it be nice to put it back together?'."

The group approached Buildbase builders' merchants for help and the company supplied all the materials.

Over two weekends the residents worked together to lay a gravel driveway and garden area, with a paving slab path.

Catherine Shadbolt, secretary of the residents' association, said that the lady had been left "very, very upset" by the incident, but was very pleased by the work done by her kind neighbours.

It is understood that since they were initially scared off, the traders have returned to the lady's house to try to get more money from her.