A 70-year-old woman paid out more than £70,000 in cash to alleged bogus workmen, police have revealed.

The pensioner was visited at her home in Buckstone Gate, Edinburgh, nine times between April and June this year.

She agreed to pay large sums for gardening work and shelled out £70,000 before the police were called in.

On Wednesday, Police Scotland said three men - aged 19, 24 and 52 - had been arrested and charged by the force's Operation Aristotle team.

The trio made a first appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Detective inspector Paul Grainger from Corstorphine CID said: "Operation Aristotle is an ongoing initiative within Edinburgh to help prevent vulnerable members of our communities being targeted by bogus workmen and to bring perpetrators of such offences to justice.

"These arrests demonstrate our commitment to tackling doorstep crime in all its forms and the public have a vital role to play in helping us achieve this goal.

"If you observe any suspicious activity around the home of a family member, friend or neighbour, of if you have concerns that a vulnerable person is being exploited, then please contact us immediately."