Two British tourists are recovering in hospital after being shot in an attempted robbery in Brazil.

The pair named as brothers, William, 20, and James, 26, with a preliminary surname given as ‘Lesdhan’, were heading back to their hotel on Friday (2 March) around 1am, along Taperapua Beach in Porto Seguro, a popular holiday resort in north-east Brazil, when they were approached by a couple of men on a motorbike.

The thugs tried to rob the backpack of one of the brothers. He apparently resisted, and shots were fired.

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The brothers are recovering at the Luís Eduardo Magalhaes Hospital

Brazil is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, but foreign visitors are advised constantly to e on the look-out for muggers

Police do not advise tourists to fight back against muggers as this man did in January 2017

William was hit in the right hand and has a fractured finger, while James was shot twice in his left arm and suffered a fractured bone.

James reportedly told cops: “They tried to snatch William’s backpack and he took it (back)."

The gunmen fled the scene empty handed.

Detectives said the pair are in a stable condition in Luís Eduardo Magalhaes Hospital.

The victims, who had been staying in the area for two days, planned to vacation in the city until Monday (5 March).

The brothers have been visited by relatives who live in Espirito Santo and plan to return to their family members’ house after they are discharged

The incident is being investigated by Porto Seguro’s Tourist Protection Office (Deltur).

Cops have not identified the armed assailants but said they have ‘CCTV images of the motorbike’ which should help with their inquiry.