CONMEN have tricked two elderly women in Bradford on Avon, getting away with hundreds of pounds.

A man turned up on the doorstep of a woman in her late 70s, claiming potholes in her driveway needed mending.

The conman, who was white, about 6ft, and light brown hair, said he had been doing a job in the area and had some gravel left over. He said he would patch up her 150-yard drive for £5 a ton and she agreed.

Two hours later, even though the job was not finished, he knocked on her door and asked for more than £1,000. She paid him £400 in cash and gave him a cheque.

PC Nigel Bullimore, of Bradford police, said: "She is distressed and upset. There is no way she can afford this sort of money.

"Obviously the work carried out was no way near this cost.

"This is somebody taking huge advantage of an elderly lady living alone."

Police are looking for a white transit-type van and a light-coloured tipper lorry used by the men.

In a separate incident, a man turned up at the door of another Bradford pensioner's town centre home claiming to be her neighbour.

The man said his house had a bad water leak and he was worried water was coming through into her house.

The elderly lady let him in and they were looking around her home for a sign of the leak when she discovered a second man searching another room. Both men left and it was only later that members of her family discovered £500 had gone missing.

Sgt Mark Rees said: "We want people to be aware of the risks of bogus callers.

"If you are uncertain about a caller obtain identification and if you are still uncertain phone the police."

Anyone with information about either of these incidents is asked to contact Bradford police on (01225) 862222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.