TWO brothers cheated an 86-year-old West Craven woman out of more than £250 after turning up out of the blue to power-wash her drive, a court heard.

One of the odd-job men, Anthony Smith, even took Mary Chew to the bank so she could withdraw more money to pay for a weed killer solution, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Mrs Chew said she had not wanted Smith, and his brother Charlie, to carry out the work but felt pressured into agreeing.

The brothers had offered to clean her front and back gardens but there were was no evidence they had done anything at the rear, the court heard.

Later Anthony Smith, 31, of Bank Street, Barnoldswick, pleaded guilty to offences of fraud and theft.

His older brother Charlie, 39, also of Bank Street, denied the same charges but was convicted after a two-day trial.

Prosecutor Eric Lamb told jurors that the Smiths turned up at Mrs Chew’s home, in the Valley Gardens area of Barnoldswick, and initially offered to power wash her drive for £375.

While Anthony stood talking to the pensioner, his brother cleaned a small section of the path as a demonstration.

Mr Lamb said Mrs Chew informed them she could not afford the price and in any event her grandson was coming to carry out the work that weekend.

But jurors heard that the younger brother was “persistent” and, after offering to do the front and rear gardens for £175 instead, she eventually agreed to “stop them bothering her”.

Later Anthony Smith offered to treat Mrs Chew’s garden with weed killer, and asked for a further £100, said Mr Lamb.

When Mrs Chew said she did not have the money he offered to take a taxi with her to the bank, while Charlie Smith remained behind, the court heard.

Once Mrs Chew went to the bank and withdrew £100, she gave Anthony Smith £80. But when they arrived back at her home, the brothers left and she never saw them again, jurors were told.

The taxi driver who took Anthony Smith and Mrs Chew to the bank later identified the brothers to the police, the court heard.

The brothers have each been remanded on bail, to be sentenced by trial judge Sara Dodd later this month.