A household in East Mayo is 900 euro down after they paid cash to 4 men who presented as tree surgeons at their door last Monday, a week ago today, but failed to carry out the work agreed.

The 4 men travelling in a white transit van with tree surgeons written on the Wicklow registered vehicle,  knocked on the door of the farm house in East Mayo and offered their services in light of recent storms and the potential of trees falling.

The men offered a 500 euro discount, if the householder paid in cash.

The deal was agreed and the men began cutting down trees, but after just 5 trees being trimmed, they said they required additional equipment and asked for the 900 in cash so that they could hire the additional equipment required to carry out the extensive tree cutting job agreed.

They left, promising to return the next day.

The householders have not seen the tree surgeons since and have reported the matter to Claremorris gardai.

The public are being advised to be wary of anyone offering door to door services and to take details and phone numbers before even considering hiring such services.