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A family of British tourists face being kicked out of New Zealand after allegedly causing chaos across the country.

The family - thought to be from Liverpool - are said to have dumped rubbish on the popular Takapuna Beach, threatened to knock a witness's brains out and repeatedly refused to pay for meals at a number of restaurants.

They are also accused of being abusive to hotel and restaurant staff and causing the "worst flight" of a tourist's life.

The Mayor of Auckland even described them as "a**holes" and "trash" in a foul-mouthed rant.

They have now been issued a deportation notice, the New Zealand Herald reports, and a petition calling for them to be booted out of the country has attracted more than 2,500 signatures.

Do you know the family involved? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

Among the accusations leveled against the tourists are:

Leaving rubbish on Takapuna beach before a boy in the group - thought to be eight years old - threatened to 'knock the brains out' of a local who challenged them

Causing chaos on a flight to New Zealand

Threatening journalists and grabbing a reporter's phone before deleting footage

Walking through a drive-through section at a Burger King, prompting police to be called

Refusing to pay for meals at Backyard Bar and Restaurant after claiming there were ants in their food

Threatening staff and leaving without paying at Artwok eatery in Takapuna

Refusing to pay for $250 of food - the equivalent of £132 - after claiming there was hair in it at Mr India in Northcote

In an angry interview, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff told a student radio station: "I've asked the council to follow up because I want to see them loaded with an infringement fine for trashing our country.

"They shouldn't even be here."

According to reports in New Zealand, the family are from Liverpool.

Immigration officers were on hand on Tuesday when police were called following a row said to involve the group in a branch of Burger King, Stuff reports.

A manager at the fast food restaurant said: "They were walking through the drive through.

"They were just here causing problems for other customers."

The restaurant boss said the group were being "a bit intimidating".

(Image: Krista Curnow / Facebook)

The family - said to have around 13 members - were reportedly served with deportation papers.

One passenger who was on a plane with the group into New Zealand described it as the "worst flight" of his life.

He told the Herald: "After leaving the plane they even left one of her [their baby's] suits in the overhead that we think had actual poop left in it, because it smelt like death."

Video of the group was widely shared on Facebook when local Krista Curnow took footage of them on the beach.

A young boy threatened to 'knock her brains out'.

Posting on Facebook, Krista, 26, wrote: "We approached the family to ask them if they can please not leave without picking up their rubbish, their response was basically if we have a problem then we can pick it up and that that's what the council is for."

She claimed "four or five ladies" had stood around her, saying they were going to hit her.

But the family have hit back at the allegations against them.

(Image: Krista Curnow / Facebook)

In an interview with the Herald , family member David Johnson said he was stunned by the backlash against them.

He said: "We did leave a mess and they're saying we're gypsies, we're not gypsies.

"We're English citizens and we were attacked on that beach, we left and they videoed the mess and then put it on Facebook, you see what I mean?"

He said the rubbish the group left behing was "not the end of the world".

The Herald said his brother, John Johnson, "ripped" a phone from a reporter's hand and deleted footage before handing it back.

John Johnson reportedly told the newspaper that he came from a good family, and said his grandfather was the "tenth richest man in England".

Mr Johnson, who described himself as a "fat kid from England on holiday", said he had been made to feel unwelcome, and like an "alien invader".

A petition widely shared in New Zealand states: "These tourists have come to our country, scammed our local businesses and littered along our beaches.

"Get rid of them now to teach a lesson to future tourists that we do not accept such behaviour in our Homeland."

The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.