POLICE at Dartford are searching for two bogus builders who left a pensioner thousands of pounds out of pocket by conning him into thinking the roof of his house needed urgent repairs.

The duo who even drove their 78-year-old victim into town to collect part of the cash.

The next day they returned for the rest.

The tricksters called at the pensioner's home in Dartford's Bow Arrow Lane and told him they had noticed some loose roof tiles and offered to fix them for £5,000.

When the man said he didn't have that kind of cash in the house, they offered to drive him into town to get it. The man has told police he was taken there in a white van and handed more than £5,000. The men agreed they would return the next day to start work.

The following morning, a man calling himself Mr Johnson, telephoned the pensioner asking for a further £3,000 to cover scaffolding costs. They again collected the man and drove him into town to get the extra money, this time in a black Mercedes.

The pensioner received another call the next day telling him that they were waiting to pick up the scaffolding - but the bogus builders never returned.

One of the men was white and about 5ft 9ins tall. He had brown hair and was wearing a dark blue jacket.The other man was also white, but shorter with dark hair which was brushed forward. Both men were in their 30s and possibly wearing overalls.

The van had red lettering on the side saying ROOFING, GUTTERING, CHIMNEYS and possibly a picture of a figure holding a hod carrier and bricks.

If anyone has any information about the crime they should contact Richard Bushell on 01322 283154 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.