A 23-year-old Indian post graduate student enrolled at Lancaster University in the UK was killed after he was shot in an "unprovoked attack" by two white men, police said.

Anuj Bidve was studying a micro-electronics post graduate qualification at Lancaster University.

The Greater Manchester Police said the victim was studying at Lancaster University. His parents in India have been informed of the incident.

He was part of a group of nine male and female students, all Indian, who were staying in a nearby hotel for a break in Manchester over the Christmas holidays.

They were heading towards the city centre when they were approached by two white men who were on foot.

The killer approached, engaged the victim in a "very short" conversation, and about a minute later pulled out a handgun and shot the student in the side of the head.

The victim collapsed to the ground as his killer ran away, the police said.

The gunman was described as white, in his mid-20s, of slim build and wearing a grey top. The other man was of a heavier build and wearing a black jacket.

"We can confirm that the man killed in Salford early this morning is a 23-year old Indian post graduate student, who was studying microelectronics," a Lancaster University spokesman said.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this time, and counselling and support has been organised for his fellow students who are deeply upset," he said.

He said the young man "was simply visiting Manchester with his friends and has been killed, and his family deserve to see those responsible brought to justice".