A businessman from the North-East has been stabbed to death in Costa Rica in what police believe may have been a revenge killing.

Thomas Purvis, 45, from County Durham, was discovered at his home in the central American country on Monday. He was in Costa Rica selling security equipment.

He had been stabbed 11 times, local police said.

"It's possible that the cause of death was revenge because there are no indications of robbery," said police spokesman Francisco Ruiz.

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed on Tuesday the death of Mr Purvis.

"I can confirm that Thomas Purvis, a 45-year-old British national, was killed in Costa Rica," he said.

"British officials are involved and have spoken to next of kin and stand ready to offer consular assistance."

According to local media, he had been selling microchips which can be implanted in the skin as a security measure.

British Embassy officer Vicky Baxter-Amade was called to the scene to identify Mr Purvis' body after he was found dead by a friend.

She said neighbours in the popular Sabana Sur area of the capital San Jose were in shock over the murder, which is mystifying police chiefs.

Mr Purvis had been based in Costa Rica since May 2002, but had not registered with the British Embassy, nor had he applied for residency.

Ms Baxter-Amade added: "It was a normal, spacious, San Jose residence.

Certainly the neighbours spoke very highly of him. It's a quiet neighbourhood and there is a great deal of shock. At this stage we are still waiting for more details from the police investigation.

"He was last seen on Friday and failed to keep his appointments on Saturday.

"He was found on Monday. It is suspected he was killed either late on Friday or on Saturday. At this stage the police aren't aware of any obvious motive.

"There has been an autopsy, which established the cause of death as multiple stab wounds.

"As far as I'm aware he was on his own. We were notified by a Costa Rican friend who discovered the body and notified the embassy. "We are not aware of any relatives or family in this area."

Costa Rica is a relatively stable and democratic country of about four million people.