A GANG of armed robbers may be behind the brutal murder of a retired North Yorkshire businessman in Venezuela, it was revealed today.

Police in Margarita said the murder of Kenneth Todd, 62, had all the hallmarks of a group of "professional hitmen" known to be operating on the Caribbean island.

The family of grandfather Mr Todd, described as "a well-loved and much respected man", were said to be "totally devastated".

Four masked men are reported to have burst into Mr Todd's holiday hotel in San Juan Bautista early on Sunday.

Officials said Mr Todd was beaten to death with the butt of a pistol. His body was later taken to a hospital in the island's main city, Porlamar.

The men made off with cash, jewellery and a camera from Mr Todd's hotel room. Benito Dumont, operational director of the island's independent police force, the Instituto Neoespartano de Polica, said: "The circumstances in this case match the same modus operandi used by bands of hitmen who have moved to Margarita from the (Venezuelan) mainland."

Investigators believe Mr Todd may have been deliberately targeted by the gang.

The governor of Margarita, Morel Rodrguez Avila, is understood to have met the island's Security Council yesterday to discuss the incident.

Seor Dumont said policing on the island had been "redoubled" in the wake of the attack, and that the investigation into Mr Todd's murder was ongoing.

Mr Todd had recently retired from FD Todd & Sons, the family waste management business in Thirsk.

He took the business over from his father and over more than 40 years expanded it into one of the best-known businesses in its sector in North Yorkshire.

During the last seven years his three children had succeeded him in the business, from which he had stepped down to pursue other interests, including sailing.

For the last four years he had lived in Spain with his wife, Bronwyn, but had maintained strong connections with Yorkshire and, particularly, Thirsk, regularly visiting his family and friends. He and Bronwyn were on holiday in Margarita when he was attacked and killed.

Last night, the family issued a statement saying that they had been given full support by the British Embassy.

Mr Todd's elder son, Richard, said: "Our father was a well-loved and much-respected man. He leaves a loving mother, wife, three children and grandchildren.

"As you can imagine, we are all totally devastated by this tragic loss of a loving husband and devoted father and son. We would like to thank those who have sent us messages of sympathy."

Updated: 09:42 Friday, October 21, 2005