ROGUE traders smashed down a wall belonging to an elderly dementia sufferer and billed her for repairs.

Joan Moreton, 85, was approached by a man who tried to charge her £600 to rebuild the broken wall, on Wednesday afternoon.

But neighbours intervened after they saw him tampering with garden wall of the property in Hazelton Road, Colchester, earlier that day.

He pulled out decorative slabs, bricks and coping stones and left them in a pile at the end of her drive.

The man then returned at around 6.30pm and approached Mrs Moreton saying he had spotted the damage and offered his service to rebuild it.

Her daughter and next door neighbour confronted the man who reacted angrily before making off in a white transit van.

Police have warned residents to be on their guard.

Full story in tomorrow's Gazette.