BOTCHED building jobs by untrustworthy tradesmen are costing millions in repairs nationwide.

According to insurance firm Direct Line, more than half a million people have had to employ someone to fix repair work in the past year.

A survey of 2,000 adults showed that the cost of putting such work right was almost £1,000, while a third of those surveyed called back the original tradesman to correct his or her work.

Robert Taylour, of Swindon Trading Standards said that with summer approaching, those people who wanted to carry out improvements to their homes should try to find reputable builders and look into getting several quotations for work rather then just estimates.

He said: "We have seen this problem many times in Swindon. However trading standards only get involved once the problem has occurred and we don't often hear about the costs of putting repairs correct."

In one example in Swindon builders approached a resident offered to lay block paving on a driveway. The driveway already had concrete so the builders decided to use the concrete as a base and build on top, but it meant that once complete, the driveway was a block-height higher than the pavement so a ramp was added.

But the concrete was not completely level and some of the blocks crumbled and made the driveway unusable.

Other problems have involved unscrupulous builders repairing flat roofs but not tucking in felt into the brickwork leaving it exposed to the elements and more likely to leak water.

According to Direct Line, one in 10 of the botched jobs involved carpenters, while about one in 12 were builders, plasterers or electricians.

Problems included unsafe electrics to leaking roofs.

Andrew Lowe, head of home insurance at Direct Line, said: "Our research confirms that poor workmanship and few guarantees are causing unnecessary expense."

Only pay when you're satisfied

Swindon Council's Trading Standards offers advice to those planning to get work done:

Look for local, established traders with a good reputation and don't be tempted by someone who knocks on your door with a bargain price

Shop around and get several traders to quote .

Look for membership of relevant trade organisations and know with whom you are trading. Be particularly wary of a contractor who only gives a mobile phone number contact and no full address.

Pay the bill only once it is satisfactory complete and never up front.