An 86-year-old Shropshire woman was left “stranded and confused” after being driven to the bank by workmen and forced to take out money for surfacing work on her driveway.

She was abandoned in Shrewsbury town centre after she handed over the cash.

Trading Standards were alerted to the situation after a concerned neighbour contacted them about the quality of the work at the woman’s home in Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury.

Police officers were then contacted and two men were yesterday arrested in the Meole Brace area following a search. A flatbed lorry was also seized.

The men, both in their 20s, were interviewed and released on bail pending further inquiries by Shropshire trading standards.

Sergeant Jeff Morris, from the Shrewsbury-based Road Policing Support Team (North), said today: “The matter is now under investigation by trading standards but the operation was a good example of effective teamwork between the public, trading standards and ourselves.

“I’d like to thank the neighbour for notifying the authorities.

“People should not hesitate to contact the police if they have suspicions, especially when their neighbours are elderly.”

John Hurst-Knight, Shropshire County Council’s cabinet member for waste and economy, said: “With what appears to be a spell of better weather, doorstep criminals may take advantage to target vulnerable consumers and get them to agree to home improvements that end up being anything but.

“Whilst there are reputable traders around, there are also a number of rogues that people need to avoid.”