AN investigation is under way after a wealthy businessman from the region was robbed and bludgeoned to death on a Caribbean island.

Kenneth Todd was beaten with a pistol butt in his hotel room on Margarita, off the northern coast of Venezuela, while on holiday with his wife, Bronwyn.

The 62-year-old had recently retired from Thirsk waste management company FD Todd and Sons.

Last night, his grief-stricken eldest son, Richard, said: "Our father was a well-loved and much-respected man.

"As you can imagine, we are all totally devastated by this tragic loss of a loving husband and devoted father and son."

A police spokesman on Margarita said Mr Todd was attacked in his room in the Hotel La Posada, in the small community of San Juan Bautista, north-west of the island's main city, Porlamar.

"Cash, jewellery and a camera were taken from rooms D6 and D7 in the hotel, which had been reserved by the businessman," he said. "We do not yet have any information about who or how many people committed the murder.

"Investigations are continuing to identify and capture the murderers."

Mr Todd's body was taken to the Hospital Luis Ortega, in Porlamar, at about 5.30pm on Sunday - 10.30pm UK time. He had suffered multiple head wounds.

Mr Todd took his Thirsk business over from his father and helped it grow for more than 40 years, making it one of the best-known businesses in its sector in North Yorkshire.

During the past seven years, his three children had succeeded him in the business.

For the past four years he had been living in Spain with his wife but he visited his family and friends regularly.