TRADING Standards officers are investigating after a Bradford couple complained they had paid £800 for roofing and guttering work that now needed to be re-done.

Doreen and Malcolm Rider, both 81, of Odsal, said they had been taught a "tough lesson" after being tempted by low prices advertised on a leaflet posted through their door from a company called Everwhite.

After having some guttering, facia boards and roof felt replaced, the couple said they had since found problems with the work and had now been told by another company it would cost at least another £800 to rectify the problem.

"We rang the number on the brochure and two men came to do the work the same day," said Mrs Rider.

"We only noticed the problems a few weeks later when we had some heavy rain.

"The water poured down and just ran off the roof. They promised to come back three times, but never did.

"If you look at the roof, it doesn't seem too bad on the face of it, but we've really been caught out."

After ringing a Citizens Advice consumer helpline, the couple said they were told to send letters via recorded delivery to the company's address, listed on its website as Wakefield Road, Bradford, asking for the work to be re-done.

After writing to the Wakefield Road address, they received a reply from a resident stating the house number was a private residential address.

The couple have now had a new quote to fix the roof from another company, and have been told it will cost at least another £800, taking their total spend to around £1,600.

"We've got no choice but to use our savings, we can't not do anything about it as the work will have to be done before winter," said Mrs Rider.

"It's terrible.The company didn't pester us, they just delivered the leaflet, and it looked a good price.

"Never in a million years did we think this would happen. We definitely won't be doing the same thing again, it's a tough lesson to learn."

The couple say they have a receipt for the work that was carried out, which came with a ten-year guarantee, and still have the original brochure that was delivered through their door.

According to their website, www.everwhite.org.uk, which was taken down this week, the company specialises in facias, soffits, barge boards, cladding, guttering, dry verge and roof re-colouring, promising to "beat any genuine quote," and "carry out work in a respectable manner."

When the Telegraph & Argus rang the Bradford number on the Everwhite brochure, a man answered and said the owner of the company was currently in Germany.

He then went on to say he was a manager of the firm, and that he was "willing to go and fix the work" but the complainants "did not want him to."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Trading Standards (WYTS) confirmed it had received a complaint from Mrs Rider and that "further enquiries" were being made.

It also confirmed the Wakefield Road address was a private house, and said officers would be visiting the couple in person as part of an ongoing investigation.

"Our message would be not to deal with door step callers, always go looking for a reputable company and do the proper research and checks," said the spokesman.

"Never pay the full amount in advance, and always leave a final balance until the work has been completed in a satisfactory manner."