POLICE are continuing to hunt for a cowboy builder who conned a pensioner into paying £21,000 for worthless home improvements.

Officers believe he may have also targeted other people in the area.

Vincent Cheetham, 72, took out a loan after spending his £16,000 savings on work at his home in the Earnsdale Road area of Darwen.

A 42-year-old man was arrested in Whitefield, near Bury, last month for offences of fraud and theft. However he was yesterday released without charge when he answered his bail.

A police investigation involved a company called J&L Roofing Contactors.

Mr Cheetham, a retired warehouse worker who lives on his own, said the mess at his home had left him "heartbroken."

And he said he may now have to take out further loans in a bid to rectify the poor work, carried out by a man he knew only as Jim.

Det Sgt Ian Geogarty said that much of the work was "worthless" because it was incomplete and poorly done and warned people, particularly the elderly, to beware.

After work began in June Mr Cheetham said the builder spentno more than 14 days at the property over the next three months, doing only small amounts of work.

He last saw Jim' on September 14 and attempts to trace him have failed.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact them on 01254 51212.