Police say the bodies of two British tourists have been found naked with gruesome head wounds on a beach at a popular island in southern Thailand.

Police Colonel Prachum Ruangthong said on Monday the man and the 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 victims’ clothes and a hoe with blood stains were found nearby, he said.

Police suspect the two were slain with the hoe, leaving deep wounds on their heads, Prachum said.

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