POLICE are warning the public to beware of bogus tradesmen after two failed attempts to trick home owners in the past week.

The warning follows incidents in Great Witley and Holt Heath, both on Friday, October 8, and both involving a silver Mercedes E320, registration WJ54 OJE.

In the first, at around 11.50am, two men in the car called at an address in Witley Road.

One man was wearing a yellow, high-visibility jacket, and there was a second similar garment in the car.

The vehicle also had a makeshift Highways sign in the window.

In the second incident, at an address in Worcester Road, at around 7.30pm, asphalt and chippings were offered at very "competitive prices".

A police spokesman said, despite previous warnings about such incidents, some people still fall foul of the unsolicited approaches.

"Although both these were refused, it is clear that attempts are still being made to get people to agree to work being done by individuals and groups previously unknown to them," he said.

"Almost inevitably, these 'tradesmen' will claim a misunderstanding and charge excessively more once the job is finished.

"Fortunately, on these two occasions, it did not even get to the stage where work could start. In many other cases it does - and that's when the problems begin for those who are tempted, or even pressurised, into agreeing in the first place."

Anyone who receives such approaches should call the police on 08457 444888.