Two British tourists found dead with gruesome head wounds on Thai beach

The bodies of two British tourists have been found naked with gruesome head wounds on a beach at a popular island in southe Thailand, police say.

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

This afteoon ITV News reported that police were looking for another British man who may have left the island for Bangkok and knew at least one of the victims.

Colonel Prachum Ruangthong said the man and woman were found dead on a rocky beach on Koh Tao, an island in Surat Thani province known for its diving sites and serene beaches.

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 inteational revellers.

The victims" clothes and a hoe with blood stains on it were found nearby, he said.

It is believed that the woman was raped before being killed and people have been prevented from leaving the island.

Police suspect the pair were killed with the hoe, leaving deep wounds on their heads, Mr Prachum said.

Police are checking closed circuit TV footage at nearby restaurants, hotels and shops for clues, he said.