A THAI diplomat has been summoned to the Foreign Office to be told about the UK's concerns over his country's handling of the investigation into the murders of two British backpackers.

Foreign minister Hugo Swire told Thai charge d'affaires Nadhavathna Krishnamra there was "a real concern" over the way in which the deaths of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have been dealt with.

Mr Swire said it was crucial for the Thai authorities to investigate the killings in a "fair and transparent way" and keep the victims' families up to date with progress.

He also voiced concern about the way Thai police had engaged with the media. Two Burmese workers who have been charged with the killings were paraded in front of the cameras after apparently making confessions, which were reportedly later withdrawn.

The men, named as bar workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, are accused of the brutal murders of Miss Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, and Mr Miller, 24, from Jersey, on the holiday island of Koh Tao in September. The two suspects, both 21, were charged with three offences, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to rape and robbery. But later reports, denied by the Thai police' suggested that a Burmese embassy official had formally retracted their confessions amid allegations the pair were tortured.

Following Mr Krishnamra's meeting with Mr Swire, the Foreign Office said in a statement: "Mr Swire stressed that there was a real concern in the UK about how the investigation has been handled by the Thai authorities."