The Chinese victims of a "savage" double-murder in Newcastle were described today by police as high-achieving graduates who had done "extremely well" since coming to the UK.

Xi Zhou and her boyfriend Zhen Xing Yang, both 25, were found with severe head injuries at a flat in Newcastle’s West End on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Zhen was was found lying on a bed in the rear bedroom of the property in Croydon Road and the body of Ms Xi was found lying on a bed in the front bedroom. Northumbria Police said a post-mortem examination revealed Ms Xi may also have been suffocated.

At a press conference, Detective Superintendent Steve Wade paid tribute to the couple, who had recently graduated from Newcastle University, and who were both in Britain on valid visas.

He said that she had finished her MA in Applied Linguistics in September 2006 while he gained his MA in International Human Resources the same month.

"They were two nice hard working respectable people who have come to the UK for the best of reasons, to get a good education. They had both worked hard while at Newcastle University and both had done extremely well, graduating with good degrees," Mr Wade said.

He added that Ms Xi worked as a waitress at the Wagamama Japanese restaurant in the city centre where she was a popular member of staff. Mr Zhen’s employment status was not known at this time, the detective said.

Mr Wade said that the couple's battered bodies were discovered by a friend and former tenant, who visited the property together on Saturday.

"Unable to get an answer at the address, the friend and former tenant gained entry via an insecure downstairs rear window, before unlocking the back door allowing all three inside," the detective said.

"On entering the flat and searching the front bedroom they discovered the body of their female friend and contacted the police". He added that they had left before the body of Mr Zhen was found in the back bedroom by police.

Mr Wade said that the "unpleasant" crime scene was very bloodstained and the murderer must have been covered in blood after the attack.

"It was a vicious attack, there was a lot of blood and I think in any interpretation that was a frenzied attack," he said, adding that police had ascertained no motive for it.

He said his message to the killer, or killers, was simple: "We will work around the clock to catch those responsible. We have a very experienced team of detectives working on this case, we have the support of the local community, the area command policing and the people of Newcastle to catch whoever is responsible for this horrendous crime."

Both valid visas which were due to run out this year. They met at Newcastle University and lived in the same flat.

The unexplained murders have left other Chinese students living in fear. Ishaopeng Wu, 31, said: "I am very shocked, I cannot see if we should live in this area any more."

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