Arrests after £350 repair bill

An elderly Shropshire couple were charged £350 for just 30 minutes work by a group of men. The couple were taken to a bank to withdraw the cash, police officers said today.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of fraud and criminal damage and been released on bail after they were quizzed by officers yesterday over the incident, which happened in Ellesmere this week.

Officers were alerted by the concerned son of the couple after some tree cutting was carried out at the couple's home on Monday night.

Sergeant Jeff Morris said: "It seems they charged £350 for about 30 minutes' work and were then taken to a local bank to get the money. Fortunately, the bank was closed and the men said they would return yesterday morning to collect the money.

"We had a team of officers in the locality waiting for them and all three were arrested."

The men, who are from the Wrexham area, have been released on bail after they were questioned at Shrewsbury police station on suspicion of committing fraud and causing criminal damage. Police have also been working with Shropshire Trading Standards over the matter.

Sergeant Morris, from the Shrewsbury-based Road Policing Support Team (North), said: "If people are suspicious about strangers in their locality, possibly who have called at their home under some pretext, they should not hesitate to call the police on 0300 333 3000."

Richard Ewels, police spokesman, said today: "All three have been bailed by police pending further inquiries into an alleged fraud and criminal damage."