Northland news in brief: No room for British television actor Ross Kemp, and police want assault info

UK TV star Ross Kemp found no room at Camp Waipu Cove when he visited last month.

Camping ground full

It seems the popularity of cabins at a Northland camping ground meant there was no room for British television star Ross Kemp.

The award-winning actor had to be turned away from Camp Waipu Cove on February 20 because all the cabins were booked.

Staff took a photo of Kemp at reception and posted it on the camp ground's Facebook page on Sunday with the comment: "Who knows who this man is?" He came to check into one of our cabins but unfortunately we were fully booked."

He was in Auckland on February 17 as part of a visit to New Zealand.

Kemp's best-known role to date is that of hard man Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.

In 2004, Kemp filmed Ross Kemp on Gangs, a documentary series exploring the impact of modern gang culture in the UK and around the world. He followed this with the documentaries Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, Ross Kemp in Search of Pirates, Ross Kemp: Battle for the Amazon and Ross Kemp: Extreme World.

Car in mangroves

Another car has come to grief among the mangroves at a black spot on State Highway 11 near Paihia. The single-vehicle crash happened about 8.30am on Monday as the driver was heading downhill from Haruru Falls and lost control opposite Kaipatiki Roadway. His vehicle landed upside-down in mangroves.

When Paihia Fire Brigade arrived, the driver had managed to get out from the car and mud and was being treated by St John Ambulance. His injuries were not thought to be serious. A Kaeo man had his leg amputated after a crash at the same spot in November last year. In that case police put the cause down to speed, alcohol and "driver's licence issues".

Info on assault sought

Police still want information about a vicious assault on a young woman on Kerikeri Domain last month. Sergeant Ross Laurie said the ''particularly vicious'' assault occurred about 1.50pm on Monday, February 19, when a 16-year-old girl was approached by two women who dragged her, pushed her to the ground and kicked her repeatedly. They were trying to take her phone.

Previous appeals for help from the public had failed to identify the offenders. Anyone who saw the attack, or noticed any suspicious behaviour on the Domain around that time, is urged to contact Constable Mark Roberts on (09) 407 9211, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555-111. A Police Ten-7 crew was filming in Kerikeri on Monday in the hope the TV show would elicit new information.