QUICK-thinking bank clerk Julie Jones has been hailed a hero after stopping a elderly woman being ripped of by cowboy builders.

Julie, 46, who works at the Wootton Bassett branch of Lloyds TSB and lives in the town has been given the accolade of local hero of January by her employers after coming to the aid of an elderly woman.

Julie was serving at the bank in December when the woman asked to withdraw £1,000.

She said: "I asked her if she was sure that was how much she wanted and eventually I found out why, so I approached my manager, who took her outside. When the men saw the lady was with a member of the bank staff, they ran."

It was later revealed by police that two con artists had called at the woman's home and talked her into letting them repair some of her roof tiles.

They demanded £950 for the work, but the work they carried out was worth little more than £40.

When the tricksters realised they had been rumbled, they fled in their red Escort van with ladders on the roof.

As part of the accolade, Julie was presented with a bottle of champagne and will attend a presentation in London in March.

"I was very surprised about the award," said Julie, "I am just pleased we managed to save the lady a lot of money."

Police investigations are continuing.