Crooks posing as water board workers stole an entire driveway from a home in Faversham.

The bogus callers pretended they were from South East Water when they told a pensioner there was a serious leak under their front garden.

In broad daylight, the thieves dug up every single paving slab, loaded them into a lorry and drove off.

The water company and police are now warning others after the unusual incident on November 28 between 11am and 12.30pm.

South East Water has asked people to thoroughly check the identity of any unexpected doorstep callers claiming to be from the company before letting them carry out any work on their property or letting them inside.

Head of Service Management at South East Water Steve Andrew said: “Sometimes our staff or contractors working on our behalf do have to make unplanned visits, but if there is no security password in place, they will always be happy to wait while customers check their credentials.

“In addition our staff or contractors will always show their photographic identity cards before asking to be let in, be in the company’s uniform and have a liveried van parked nearby.

“This theft is very unusual and it is worth bearing in mind that if there was a serious leak then the house probably would be without water or be experiencing low water pressure and we would only be there if the resident had actually called us out.”

One action residents can take is to register with a security password which will be used from anyone in the company needing entry to their home.

Many distraction crimes reported to the police involve callers claiming to be from a water company, or 'water board', a description no longer used by all British water companies.