AN ELDERLY couple lost £1,000 to a conman who claimed the roof of their home required urgent work.

At around midday on Wednesday, June 11 a man using the name of Jonathan Roberts attended the home address of an elderly, vulnerable couple and convinced them they needed some work doing to their roof.

The couple paid the man £1,000 to fix their roof, which he was due to do the following day, but he never returned.

Ds Eileen Mullins said: "This was a dreadful thing to do to a vulnerable couple and we are warning people to think twice before accepting an offers of work from people knocking on your door."

The suspect is described as a white, over 6ft tall, athletic build, and with short dark hair. He was wearing a baseball cap, T shirt and shorts. He had a very unusual tattoo on his left lower arm with the words 'I can do all things through Christ'.

Anyone who thinks they know who this man might be - or who have information on similar cons - are urged to contact Ds Mullins at Grays police station on 101.