Horror as two Britons murdered on Thai beach

The victims were a 23-year-old woman from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and a 24-year-old man from Jersey, according to Thai authorities.

The attack happened on the popular small island of Koh Tao, which is known for its diving and lively bars.

A blood-stained hoe was found near the bodies and was thought to be the murder weapon.

Police colonel Prachum Ruangthong said: “The man was chopped in the back and on the side of his head, while the woman was chopped in her face.

“It’s very gruesome.”

Investigators were checking CCTV from local bars and restaurants and it was reported people were prevented from leaving the island.

The Foreign Office said: “We are aware of the death of two British nationals on September 15 on the island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand.

“The embassy are urgently seeking information from the local authorities and consular staff stand ready to provide assistance to friends and family at this tragic time.”

Thailand’s seemingly idyllic island resorts can spell danger to tourists, as the brutal murder of two British travellers illustrates only too clearly.

Glowing travel brochure descriptions of tranquil, turquoise waters, sandy beaches and jungle walks hide the fact that crime is a constant factor in this part of south east Asia.

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), as many as 11 Britons have been murdered in Thailand since 2009.

In a 2012/13 New Year’s Eve party Londoner Stephen Ashton, 22, was killed in a bar on Haad Rin beach on the Thai island of Koh Phangan - a resort where the FCO warns British travellers to beware “vicious, unprovoked attacks by gangs”.

The FCO says such attacks are particularly common around the time of Full Moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin.

British visitors are also warned that violent assaults and robberies have been reported in the resort town of Chaweng in Koh Samui. Attacks have also occurred in other tourist districts in Thailand including Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Krabi.

In July last year an American was stabbed to death, and his son seriously injured in an attack in a bar in Krabi.

In the latest incident, the bodies were found 100 metres away from the scene of a beach party, according to a local report.

It was believed that attackers may have been waiting to target the pair as they walked off at the end of the party, which was attended by a group of international revellers.

States of Jersey Police said family liaison officers were working with a family and close relatives of the dead man were thought to have been informed.

But a spokeswoman for the force said it was not in a position to name the victim, who may not have been formally identified, as that was up to the Thai police.

Norfolk Police referred all inquiries to the Foreign Office, where a spokesman said not all family members have been informed of the tragedy, and there were no plans to officially name the victims yet.