The Wigan community has been thanked by a pensioner for helping her get back on her feet after she fell victim to a rogue workman.
Theresa Byrne had her garden cleared and tidied by Good Samaritan David Blackburn, of DB Gardening Services in Billinge, after she was conned out of £80 for work that was never done.
David offered to complete all of the work for free after reading what had happened to the 73-year-old in the Wigan Evening Post.
She was taken to a cash point by the con man who claimed that he would cut her hedges and tidy up her garden once he had been paid. Sadly, he took the money and never returned.
Theresa is delighted by her new tidy garden and wants to thank everyone who helped her through her ordeal.
She said: “Thanks to David my garden is tidier and well on the way to being nice for the summer and everybody who has helped me since has been brilliant. The Police, the council, Coun Phyll Cullen, all of them have been so good to me.
“I didn’t really think at the time, and I’m upset with myself for doing it. It is just so easy to go along with it. I would not answer the door to people I don’t know again, and I hope nobody else does.”
Coun Cullen, said: “It is a marvellous gesture by David to take time out to come and do the work for Theresa. I just hope that everybody else is on their guard and does not accept offers from anybody canvassing about anything on their doorstep.
“Unfortunately in this case alarm bells should have been ringing when he offered to take her to a cash point and we should all look out for our neighbours, especially elderly ones.”