A Falmouth pensioner who fell victim to con-men and was left £130 out of pocket for just 20 minutes’ work which left her garden decimated was over the moon this week when the damage was put right, free of charge.

Sheila Baker, 85, of Grenville Road, was one of a number of people who were conned out of money by two men who purported to be bona-fide handymen/gardeners who called on houses around the Old Hill area recently.

Fortunately for her, the grandmother managed to beat the men down from £360 to £130 for the work which was meant to see her hedge reduced down by half and her garden generally tidied up and the rubbish taken away.

“After 20 minutes they came back knocking and I could not see what they had done because he was standing in the doorway,” said Mrs Baker.

“As soon as they got the money they were gone. When I looked out, I couldn’t believe what I saw.”

The hedge had not been cut down, only a V-shape space had been made, a mature tree had been cut down and the rubbish had just been dumped back into the garden.

“It wasn’t what I expected because they acted so nice and were very mannerly,” said Mrs Baker. “They were clean and put the old act on that they were nice and just trying to do a nice job.

“I didn’t like what they done, but it was my own fault.

“With the bad winter we have had everyone’s gardens are looking terrible so when someone nice came along offering to do the garden, I thought it would OK.”

When Grenville Chappel, project coordinator of the Beacon Community Regeneration Partnership, heard what had happened he wanted to help Mrs Baker so arranged for the damage caused to her garden to be put right.

Gavin Dunn and Ian Carter, from Beacon Community Enterprise, were sent along to work their magic for free. “We cannot do it for everyone, but as this was an elderly lady, living on her own, we thought it would be a nice gesture,” said Grenville. “It won’t be done to Chelsea Flower Show standard, but it will be a decent job.”

Residents around the estate are being warned to be wary of employing people who show up on their doorsteps. Anyone needing work done can contact the Beacon Resource Office where a list of reputable tradespersons is kept.