Two British brothers with links to the infamous 'gypsy' family who wreaked havoc across New Zealand have faced court over an alleged roofing scam targeting vulnerable homeowners.

Pensioner Heidrun Leonard, 82, alleges three men charged her $8,800 (£4,877) to mend a hole in her roof before vanishing without doing the work.

Ms Leonard came forward after recognising their faces when the traveller family made headlines earlier this month for a spate of offences that saw the Mayor of Auckland label them 'worse than pigs'.

The two brothers appeared in the Whanganui District Court in New Zealand on Friday after being charged with obtaining $4,758 (£2,637) and $17,890 (£9,915) by deception, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Two British brothers (one pictured) with links to the infamous 'travelling' family who wreaked havoc across New Zealand have faced court over an alleged roofing scam

The pair (one pictured) appeared in the Whanganui District Court in New Zealand on Friday after being charged with obtaining $4,758 (£2,637) and $17,890 (£9,915) by deception

Images have shown members of the family standing in public smoking and spitting, some drinking Red Bull while others carried six-packs of beer

One of the brothers also faces an additional charge of obtaining $951 (£526) by deception.

Judge Christopher Field remanded both men in custody until Tuesday, so they could find legal representation. The men were granted interim name suppression.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man who is also a member of the family group is on the run from police.

The man has been charged with fraud, reckless driving and assault with a weapon but failed to appear in court after being granted bail a week prior.

He is now wanted by police and was still on the run on Monday.

As he was granted name suppression, police are unable to ask for public help to find him by releasing his name and picture.

Heidrun Leonard, 82, has accused a trio of Brits of fleecing her out of £4,600 to fix her roof

A third man (pictured), who also has links to the British family, is now on the run after being granted bail following a string of charges including reckless driving and weapon possession

The assault and driving allegations are related to an incident at Auckland's Takapuna Beach on January 13.

Krista Curnow claims a car driven by a member of the travelling family veered towards her, and that the driver tried to take her phone when she attempted to photograph the number plate.

It's understood the deception charges are related to Auckland woman Ms Leonard, who alleged a group of British men swindled her by not performing the repair work they had promised.

'I was outside, they passed by and they said 'we would be able to get your roof alright,' and I didn't know there was something wrong with it but I thought it wouldn't be too bad,' she told Newshub.

'I let them in and showed them where my paint came off in the toilet and bathroom a bit and thought it might need to be a bit dried up and they said 'yes, we can do that'.

'They said if they want to work with these machines they would have to pay $8800 and after they have done the job, I would get the money back, and they disappeared with the $8800.'

Original sin: This mess left behind at Takapuna Beach near Auckland (left) sparked a social media firestorm. Family spokesman Joe Doran, on right, was there but there is no suggestion he was involved in scamming Ms Leonard

The now infamous family were accused of trashing a beach, leaving a cafe without paying, damaging their apartment and allegedly stealing a journalist's phone.

Ms Leonard said she was scammed by the family on January 4 - nine days before a littering incident on Takapuna beach on January 13 sparked global interest in them.

After they approached her, she decided to show them a small patch where paint was coming away from her ceiling.

They made a hole to inspect the ceiling and asked for an up-front deposit before allegedly making off with the cash.

Police revealed they've received several complaints similar to Ms Leonard's.

The Doran family returning to the UK after being deported from New Zealand following public backlash

The clan became so notorious that a hire car they crashed and abandoned in Auckland was stripped by souvenir hunters

The British family has been causing trouble in New Zealand since they arrived in the country before Christmas.

Five members of the 12-strong group were slapped with deportation orders on January 16 after causing a ruckus at Hamilton Burger King restaurant, where they were seen speaking to police.

Four adult members of the group left New Zealand and arrived at Heathrow Airport on January 27.

Larry Doran said his family had done 'nothing wrong' during their trip and called it the 'holiday from hell'.

Images have shown members of the family standing in public smoking and spitting, some drinking Red Bull while others carried six-packs of beer.

The clan, who have lived in caravan parks across the East Midlands in the UK, became so notorious that a hire car they crashed and abandoned in Auckland was stripped by souvenir hunters.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff previously called them 'a*******s' and 'trash' in interview on a local radio station.

A member of the group, Tina Maria Cash, 26, pleaded guilty in court to stealing Red Bull from a Hamilton service station.

She was ordered to pay $55 in reparation.