Two elderly nuns were killed in a convent near Astros, southern Greece, in what police suspect was an overnight robbery.

The Greek Orthodox nuns, both aged in their late 70s, were found dead in their beds on the first floor of the 17th century monastery with knife wounds.

Police said they suspected a robbery, as several doors at the convent had been forced open and the church had been broken into.

A church official confirmed that a number of valuable icons were kept in the monastery.

Up until late yesterday, nothing had been reported missing from the convent.

Remote monasteries are often the targets of thieves. A rare and valuable Byzantine icon was stolen from a cliff-side monastery last year but was recovered a month later.