A PENSIONER has been left with daylight and cold winter air pouring into her home, after con men attacked her bungalow with a sledgehammer before asking for cash and fleeing.

Vickie Kennish, a Frensham resident in her late 60s, fell foul of the elaborate scam last Thursday afternoon when three men knocked on her door claiming to be from recently-bust company Weathershield.

She said they knew all her details, even down to the date she had the company's special weather-resistant paint painted onto her house, and so believed they were genuine.

Vickie left the men to "check for cracks" in the paintwork while she went inside to rest, but before long was woken up by loud banging outside. Investigating, she was shocked to find the men had, without permission, knocked out bricks and tiles from her roof as well as causing extensive damage to the walls of her home - so severe even her internal plasterboard was cracked.

"I'm devastated," said Vickie.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.