While no one would begrudge local tradesfolk the right to carry out their businesses, the state Leslie and Norma Williams’ drive was left in by a builder was, quite frankly, a disgrace.

And the fact this couple were in their 80s, and that Mrs Williams is in a wheelchair, leaves a very sour taste in the mouth.

Hopefully, the problem will be rectified – the builder has promised to do so, but only after trading standards have become involved – and it may be there is a genuine reason why this has happened in this particular case.

But the general issue of vulnerable and elderly people being forced to pay – sometimes at over the odds rates and sometimes for work they didn’t even want in the first place – is becoming all too prevalent.

More needs to be done to give trading standards greater power to rectify these problems immediately by compelling builders to put right shoddy and incomplete work.

And better registration schemes need to be put on place, so those who need work doing know they are getting a reliable service.

It may be that in this case, it is simply a misunderstanding that will be put right, and Exclusive Paving will demonstrate by their actions how all traders should respond in these cases.

If not, trading standards must act to show that they will not allow vulnerable people like the Williams to be left out of pocket as a result of shoddy workmanship.