David Miller

Two British tourists have been killed in an attack on a beach in southern Thailand, local police have said.

David Miller, 24, from Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, were attacked on Sunday night on the island of Koh Tao, Thai police said.

Their bodies were found with serious injuries in the early hours of Monday.

The UK Foreign Office said the British consul in Bangkok was travelling to the island, which is a popular tourist destination, "as soon as possible".

The bodies were found close to the beach-side bungalows where the pair had been staying.

Local police said both had suffered serious injuries and a garden hoe, believed to have been used in the attack, was found nearby.

Police said they have yet to identify a motive or suspect in the killing of the tourists, who had arrived in Thailand last month.

Boats were earlier blocked from leaving the island, but the BBC's Jonathan Head said this did not last long and vessels were later taking people to and from the island.