Police in raids on builders

Dawn raids were today carried out on four addresses in the West Midlands as part of a probe into a suspected rogue trader ring targeting more than 100 elderly and vulnerable people.

One man was arrested during a swoop on a caravan park in South Staffordshire and one at a house in Brierley Hill. Two homes in Pensnett were also raided.

The raids were part of a major probe into allegations that more than 100 people may have fallen victim to rogue traders carrying out driveway paving and building work.

The two men arrested, aged 42 and 37, were today in police custody on suspicion of fraud.

Officers from West Midlands and Staffordshire Police were joined by Trading Standards teams for the raids which were carried out shortly after 5am today.

Documents including financial statements and invoices for work were seized and arrests were made at the caravan park off Stafford Road, Coven Heath, and in Raglan Street, Brierley Hill.

Documents were also seized from homes in Tiled House Lane, Pensnett.

Sgt Martin Hall from Dudley police, who led the early morning raids, said they were part of investigations into a possible rogue trader ring operating over the past two years.