Two passengers of P&O Cruises' Adonia are in hospital after being shot by an armed robber during a port call in Barbados.

 A 59-year-old woman was shot in the right thigh and a 72-year-old man was shot in the pelvis on the outskirts of the capital Bridgetown as they made their way back to Adonia on Sunday afternoon. They have been named as Philip and Ann Prior, from Woodbridge in Suffolk, according to a report in the Evening Standard, Cruise Critic reports on its website.

According to police reports the attacker fled the scene with the woman's handbag before the police arrived. Passers-by rushed to the couple's aid, using towels as bandages, until an ambulance arrived. The pair was taken to the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital where they are said to be 'comfortable'.

A statement from P&O Cruise read: “Two passengers on Adonia have been hospitalised in Bridgetown, Barbados following an incident on shore. Local authorities are investigating. Our shoreside customer care team and ship's medical team are providing support as necessary.”

A police spokesman said: “It appears the incident was a robbery. They are currently receiving medical attention but are not in a life-threatening condition. They are talking to our detectives to assist with the investigation. We believe the couple were on the way back to their cruise ship.”