A WARNING has been issued after a pensioner was tricked into handing over £3,000 by a man claiming to be from the firm replacing the roof at his home.

The incident happened at 11am last Monday when a man knocked on the door of Derrick Hepworth's home in Howard Park, Cleckheaton, and asked for cash upfront for the work which had just begun.

The work was actually being done by Phil Senior of local firm P Senior Roofing, but he had not asked for any money beforehand.

West Yorkshire Police are investigating the incident and tonight issued an e-fit of the suspect.

Mr Senior's wife Carrie has launched an online appeal to help pay the outstanding bill, so the couple do not have to dip into their savings to pay for the new roof.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: "We had already started the job and had half the roof off when it happened, so we obviously weren't going to leave it like that.

Mr Hepworth has offered to pay us for the work, but we won't accept it as he's already £3,000 out of pocket.

"If we can raise £1,200, that will cover our costs, as our suppliers and the scaffolding firm have helped out and offered discounts.

"It was obviously a very clever and brazen man that's asked Mr Hepworth the right questions to get him to hand over the money. He's told him that he was the boss, Dave, and needed some money upfront.

"Mr Hepworth offered him £1,000 but he must have had the full amount in cash in an envelope ready to pay me at the end, and the man has taken that off him.

"He even walked out the door, looked up at the lads working on the roof, and said 'They are doing a good job'.

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"Mr Hepworth is 86 and he feels really embarrassed by the whole thing. "I want to warn people in the hope that this doesn't happen to anyone else."

As of lunchtime today more than £1,100 had been pledged via the crowdfunding appeal, almost reaching the target to cover the costs.

The suspect is described as an Asian or mixed race man, aged between 30 and 35-years-old, about 6ft tall, of slim build, with dark hair and beard. He was wearing a light-coloured rain coat.

PC Mark Jones, of Batley and Spen Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "We would like to hear from anyone who recognises the man pictured or who saw a man matching the suspect's description in the Howard Park area around the time of this offence.

"Anyone with information is asked to please call the Batley and Spen Neighbourhood Policing Team via 101, quoting reference 13160014205."

To donate visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Hepworthsroof.