ROGUE gangs of gardeners are targeting Bolton pensioners and overcharging them for work at their homes.

In one case, a 79-year-old man handed over £350 savings for tree pruning which should have cost no more than £100.

Today police have revealed that different gangs are operating throughout Bolton.

Police have received a spate of complaints over the past month but fear there are many more not being reported as homeowners are either too embarrassed or do not know what would have been a fair charge for the work carried out.

A pensioner in Astley Bridge handed over £530 for tree pruning in his garden which took no more than 45 minutes.

The man, who is short sighted and housebound, agreed to the work after three men knocked at the door of his bungalow and pointed out that his two trees were overgrown.

His family has condemned the gardeners, who they described as "conmen".

His son said: "My father is confused and is from a generation of people who are very trusting. These conmen preyed on that.

To demand such a sum of money for 45 minutes work is completely ridiculous. It is criminal in my view." In Darcy Lever, an 83-year-old woman handed £90 to doorstep callers who cut a lawn alongside her home - even though the work is normally carried out by free council gardeners.

And in a another incident in Farnworth, a man gave £50 to callers for weeding work in his garden - which was never carried out.

A police spokesman said: "We would advise people not to employ people who just turn up with no contact details other than a mobile phone number," he added. "Reputable firms have business premises or are happy to provide their home addresses and contact details if that is where they operate from."