Alert after Tobago machete attack

A fresh warning about violent crime in Trinidad and Tobago had been issued by the Foreign Office after a Somerset couple were attacked with a machete.

Peter Green, 65, and wife Mirium, 59, originally from Reading but emigrated from Somerset two years ago, were seriously hurt in Saturday's attack.

New advice says "there are high levels of violent crime, especially shootings and kidnappings".

It adds law enforcement is "weak" in Tobago and Britons have been targeted.

Mr and Mrs Green were airlifted to a regional medical centre in Trinidad, where they are receiving treatment.

Mr Green's brother Edgar, 74, who lives near Truro in Cornwall, said he could not understand why anyone would want to use a machete.

He said: "Why would someone try to kill someone? If they are trying to rob someone then rob them - this is attempted murder."

Mrs Green is reported locally to have regained consciousness after the attack while her husband is still said to be in a medically-induced coma after being struck on the head.

'Another serious attack'

Both remained in a serious condition in the Eric Williams Medical Complex on Trinidad, the Trinidad and Tobago Express said.

No arrests have been made but police said they had received several tip-offs about the crime.

It is thought the couple have been living in the town of Bacolet on Tobago's southern coast on and off for the past 10 years.

It is about seven miles (11.3km) from where Swedish couple Anna Sundsval, 62, and Ake Olson, 73, were killed last year in a similar attack.

Tobago Police Superintendent Nadir Khan described the crime as "another serious attack on tourists".

Eight killings have been reported on Tobago so far this year, compared with four in 2008.

The more developed island of Trinidad has reported 321 killings.

Carol Ann Birchwood James, president of the Tobago Hotel Association, said: "News... of this attack has gone around the world.

"We are therefore in danger of losing out, especially our UK guests."