Orpington residents are being warned about a rogue trader after a pensioner was nearly scammed out of £600.

Bromley Trading Standards has issued the warning after an 80-year-old man in Orpington was approached about his gutters.

The pensioner returned home in the first week of January and found a man on his property.

He claimed to be from ABD Contractors, based in Station Road, Orpington.

The rogue trader told the pensioner he was cleaning gutters in the area and could do his for £10.

The resident agreed, and the man said he would return to do the work tomorrow.

The next day while the elderly man was out he received a call saying the guttering and fascia had been removed because it was rotten.

The man said it would cost £1,500 to replace.

Refusing, the price was lowered to £600 and the unwitting victim reluctantly agreed as he thought the guttering would need to be put back up.

He was informed the work would be done immediately and a courier would be round to collect the cash later on.

However, upon returning home an hour later the pensioner found no evidence of the guttering being removed at all.

On advice from his family, he ignored a knock at the door later that evening.

Coun Tim Stevens, executive member for public protection and safety, said: "This was an outright attempt to trick someone into paying for work which was neither needed or indeed carried out at all.

"We suspect the rogue was expecting the householder to return home after dark and therefore not have an opportunity to check the work had been carried out.

"The resident did the right thing by refusing to answer the door."

If you or anyone you know is approached by ABD Contractors from Orpington please call Bromley Trading Standards’ rapid response number straight away on 07903 852 090.