ANUPARMA Chiti was a happy, smiling woman and a delight to work with according to devastated colleagues today.But in recent weeks friends had noticed a change in her behaviour and that she was no longer as happy as she had been.

ANUPARMA Chiti was a happy, smiling woman and a delight to work with according to devastated colleagues today.

But in recent weeks friends had noticed a change in her behaviour and that she was no longer as happy as she had been.

As well as working at Ipswich Hospital, where she went under the name of Anuparma Damera, she also worked some shifts at the Nuffield Private Hospital in Ipswich.

Jan Rowsell, spokeswoman for Ipswich Hospital said that there was "a palpable sense of sadness" at the Heath Road site today.

Renowned in her profession as a radiologist who specialised in breast cancer studies, she had done lots of research work and was already beginning to make her mark in Ipswich.

A friend, who did not want to be named said: "She was a quiet, lovely person and a very pretty girl.

"When she arrived she always had her head up and was always smiling but people had noticed recently that she walked with her head down and seemed troubled.

"It is only now when this kind of thing happens that you realise there might have been a problem."

David Jowett, general manager of the Nuffield Hospital said: "Anu had worked with us for only a relatively short period.

"But she was already making her mark on the way we deal with patients with breast cancer.

"Everyone found her an absolute delight to work with.

"There is great sadness here today among consultants and staff."

Mr Jowett said that she was looking at mammography in different ways to the hospital had in the past and was really making a difference to people.

He said that he had only realised what had happened when he got to work and read his morning paper and had gone round to personally let staff know what had happened.