A robber shot dead a UK tourist and seriously wounded her husband at their hotel in South Africa.

John and Diane Conway, from Warminster, Wiltshire, had just finished dinner at the Royal Hotel in Pilgrim's Rest in the north east of the country near Nelspruit when the incident happened.

The gunman approached them at their bedroom door on Tuesday evening and demanded money.

When they refused he fired three shots, hitting the woman in the stomach. Her husband suffered a gunshot wound to the face.

Mrs Conway was killed in the attack

Police spokesman Inspector Leonard Hlathi said: "The suspect demanded money from Mr Conway and he refused.

"The man then fired three shots at them before running away without taking anything."

A police source said the couple had arrived at Pilgrim's Rest on Monday, on their way back to the UK from the Kruger National Park.

Top detectives

"This is the first time something like this has happened in Pilgrim's Rest," he said.

"The provincial commissioner has appointed a team of top detectives to investigate this case.

"The police totally condemn this brutal attack and will not rest until the man is arrested and convicted," Mr Hlathi said.

Thousands of tourists visit Pilgrim's Rest in the scenic Mpumalanga province mountains each year.