Wiltshire police helicopter was up over Devizes on Wednesday afternoon on reports of rogue traders offering cut price driveway tarmaccing.

Three men were arrested after a householder in Wessex Drive, Jump Farm, rang 999 to complain that her driveway had been left uncompleted.

PC Tom Kinderman said: "The lady had agreed a price with these guys and then they had dug up her drive and left her with a pile of rubble."

The helicopter was alerted and toured the area looking for groups of men working on driveways. The men were found not far away in Elizabeth Drive. Their lorry, which had been involved with previous "rogue trader" incidents in the region, was impounded.

They were arrested on suspicion of contravening the Fraud Act in that they had not given the householder the requisite "cooling off" period as demanded by law.

PC Kinderman said: "In this case there was no quote, no written agreement and no contract. People think they are getting a cheap, quick job but in many of these cases they end up having to bring in a reputable local firm to put it to rights."

The three men, who are from outside the county and thought to be members of the travelling fraternity, were released on police bail.

Wiltshire Trading Standards are also investigating the case.