Halton Pensioner falls victim to con

The warning comes after the elderly victim was deprived of £40 by a couple of bogus workmen.

The two conmen bluffed their way into the pensioner’s Halton View home by showing a phoney ID card.

The crooks left a business card which gave their name, address and telephone number as PJ Platt, FS Community Installation Service, 14 Gloucester Avenue, Blackpool, 07880 992353 – details which turned out to be false.

Cllr Marie Wright (community) said: ‘I think this is deplorable. It is really important that people keep safe by only opening the door when it is someone you know, or someone who carries credible identification.’

Anyone who receives a similar approach should contact Halton Consumer Protection on 0151 471 7515.

MERSEYSIDE pensioners will continue to get free travel despite a national rule change. The Department for Transport announcement means over the next 10 years the age at which people are entitled to their free bus pass will gradually rise from 60 to 65. But Merseytravel said the change will not affect Merseyside. Chairman Mark Dowd said: “We will continue to provide free travel on buses, trains and ferries after 9.30am for everyone over the age of 60 or who meets the disability criteria, a policy we initially introduced 22 years ago. “The additional costs because of changes to the English national bus scheme will be negligible. “We estimate it would mean providing a maximum additional 3,000 passes a year if everyone who is eligible applies and we have provided for this cost.”