A British couple have been found dead near their home in Jamaica in what local police are treating as a suspected double-murder.

Charlie Anderson, a 74-year-old Windrush migrant had retired to Jamaica from Manchester with his wife Gayle, 71, just 12 months ago.

The couple's bodies were discovered 'partially burned' and with several wounds to the neck and face, in Mount Pleasant on Friday afternoon, local news report.

Police are now appealing for help from the public in solving the crime.

Gayle Anderson, 71, and her husband Charlie, 74, were discovered 'partially burned' near their home in Mount Pleasant, Jamaica on Friday

The couple were said to have recently retired to the rural community of Mount Pleasant (pictured) from Manchester

Mrs Anderson was the first to be found with her hands and feet bound together, while her husband was discovered two hours later with what police to be gunshot wounds.

Preliminary police investigations revealed that the couple had recently been defrauded of $8million Jamaican dollars (£50,000) by credit card scammers.

Investigators are looking for a man from the Mount Pleasant community who reportedly fled the area a little over a month ago in connection with the murders.

According to a family member, between August last year and May of this year, a total of 45 credit card transactions were made at prominent hardware stores and supermarkets in Portland without their knowledge.

Only two weeks before her death Gayle had been forced to return to the UK to secure copies of commercial transactions made by the fraudster.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Throyville Haughton told The Sunday Gleaner: 'Both bodies had wounds to the neck and face. However, we are not yet able to say what might have caused those injuries.

'We are making every effort to bring closure to this heinous crime, and as such, we are getting assistance from our Area Headquarters and also from Technical Services from Kingston. Our detectives are still in the area carrying out investigations.'

Charlie and Gayle Anderson pictured on their wedding day. The couple had been married for 55 years before their deaths on Friday

Mr and Mrs Anderson's sons said in a statement to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: 'Our parents Charlie and Gayle enjoyed a long and happy marriage of 55 years and leave behind their four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

'They were hardworking people, building a business with integrity and making sure we were always provided for.

'Charlie and Gayle were pillars of the community in Manchester and Jamaica, and were hugely popular and loved by many.

'They were just beginning the next chapter of their lives, retiring to Jamaica before this terrible tragedy.

'We would like to thank our friends, family and community for their prayers and support.

'We are completely devastated and ask for privacy at this extremely difficult time.'

Deputy Superintendent of Police Throyville Haughton (pictured) said authorities were appealing for help from the public

MURDERS IN JAMAICA: ONE OF THE DEADLIEST DESTINATIONS FOR BRITISH TOURISTS The island nation of Jamaica sees twice as many murders as Britain each year, despite a population of just 2.9 million. As of April 7 this year, there had been 385 reported murders in Jamaica, a 4.1 per cent increase on the same period in 2017, according to local authorities. In 2017, there was an average of six killings a week in the Parish of St James alone. The increased level of violence in St James, which includes the popular resort town of Montego Bay, saw authorities declare a state of emergency in January, which has been extended until August. In March, the Jamaican government declared an additional state of emergency in St Catherine North State, focused on Spanish Town, Linstead and Bog Walk, which will remain in place until next week. The UK Foreign Office advice that British tourists should 'exercise caution' if travelling in these areas. Between 2012 and 2015, 18 British citizens were murdered in Jamaica, making it the third deadliest destination for Brits, after Pakistan and Tunisia. In June 2017, Norma Jones, 59, from Dulwich, London was shot dead in the street in St Andrew during a five-week holiday to the island. In July 2014, British businessman Keith Murrain from Edgbaston, was found dead with his throat slit in Spanish Town after he was kidnapped shortly after arriving in Jamaica. In January 2013, eight-year-old Imani Green, from Balham, London, was shot dead while on a family holiday. Advertisement

Former neighbour Kishore Singh, who lives on High Bank in Manchester, said 'they were two of the most beautiful people in the world, Charlie was like a father to me'.

The 51-year-old said Mr Anderson, who came to the UK as a Windrush migrant, had been building a house in Jamaica and had been going back and forth over the past few years.

He went on: 'He would tell me 'I'm going home, I've worked in this country and now I want to go home and retire and enjoy my last few years'.

'He would tell me how the house building was going with so much pride in his face. We'd stand outside talking for hours.

'When I found out what happened I couldn't accept it. Not Charlie.'

Mr Anderson, a builder, gave up his free time to help Mr Singh renovate his house when he moved in around 12 years ago.

He said: 'He would come round every morning and show me what to do, and again at 4pm after he had finished work, he didn't ask for a penny. I can't big him up enough, he made time for everyone.

'And when we moved in Gayle was over straight away with housewarming presents and gifts.'

Mr Singh said the Andersons moved out to Jamaica for good around 12 months ago having lived in Manchester for decades, but had been back in the UK recently after falling victim to credit card fraud.

While Jerome Heslop, a farmer from the community in Jamaica said: 'I am baffled by these murders.

'They have given so much to this community, and they have never said no to anyone. Each time they are in Jamaica, they bring back shoes, clothes, tablets, food stuff, school items, and other stuff for residents.

'It is a wicked and sinful act, and the community has lost two great people.'