Two women tourists murdered on beach

Two British women have been found murdered on a remote beach in South Africa. Police said there was 'a strong possibility' they had been raped.

Elizabeth Over and Julia Godwin, both 30, were discovered in the Maputaland Marine Reserve near Sordwana Bay, northern Natal, close to the border with Mozambique on Monday night. Their blood-stained four-wheel- drive vehicle was found five miles up the coast.

The car was borrowed from Miss Over's fiance, Quan Cronje, a Durban businessman.

Miss Over had been working as an account executive at an advertising agency in Durban, where she had lived since February. Mrs Godwin, who is believed to have lived in Stratton, Northampton, was married with a baby daughter, Sophie. Miss Over was Sophie's godmother and the women had known each other for many years.

Mr Godwin and Sophie are understood to have been intending to join the women on Friday.

Mr Cronje could not afford to join them. He told the Natal Mercury: 'I had been there many times before and thought it was one of the safest places in Zululand to go to.'

A police spokesman said: 'They had booked into a holiday resort. It is a vast and beautiful area, very secluded and quiet, ideal for relaxing.'