DETECTIVES were today warning people to be on their guard for cowboy tradesmen who may try to rip-off residents in the wake of flooding and gales.

Officers fear gusts of up to 90mph and localised flooding at the weekend may have left some householders vulnerable to disreputable builders.

One elderly resident of Wheldrake, near York, has already handed over cash to a "convincing" roofer who said roof tiles needed replacing. He disappeared and no work has been carried out.

Emergency services were deluged with calls at the weekend as strong winds blew through the county causing structural damage to buildings, uprooting trees and turning over vehicles.

Workmen are now at full stretch as they try to clear up the mess, restore services and repair damaged properties.

Detective Constable Ian Murray, of York CID, said: "The public would be best advised to deal only with reputable builders and to obtain quotations for any work undertaken.

"Unfortunately, an elderly lady in Wheldrake has already been a victim of this type of offence... a man claimed that the roof of her house had been damaged and was in need of repair.

"The man was convincing and the lady paid him a substantial sum of money for repairs which were not required. Of course, the man has not been seen since and no work was carried out."

The bogus builder is described as being white, aged about 50, of heavy build with a clean shaven "chubby" face. He was wearing glasses and spoke with a Scottish accent.

Det Con Murray said that the man wore a distinctive dark-coloured flying helmet with woollen earflaps and a dark grey bomber jacket, grey trousers and boots.

He asked anyone who was in the area of Main Street, Wheldrake, when the incident took place at 2.30pm last Friday to phone him on 0845 6060 247.

Last year, the Evening Press joined forces with North Yorkshire County Council "doorstoppers" campaign, which aimed to raise awareness of the dangers on people's doorsteps and clamp down on crime.

Updated: 08:45 Tuesday, January 11, 2005