POLICE say Sinead Healey, whose body was found in a ditch at Beaconsfield, disappeared shortly after answering a mobile phone call.

Metropolitan Police this week launched a murder inquiry as they named 26-year-old Miss Healey, from West London, as the woman whose skeletal remains were found in a lay-by off the A40 last month.

Police believe she disappeared after going to meet the person who called her mobile. She was never seen again. Her bank account has not been touched and she took no personal belongings with her.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Dickie, of the Serious Crime Group leading the investigation, said: "Sinead was a fun-loving and vivacious young woman, popular with her family and many friends.

"Her brutal murder is a terrible shock to her family and all those who knew her.

"Myself and my team are determined to bring her murderer to justice, and we would implore any members of the public who have information that could help to come forward."

Sinead, listed as a missing person, was dumped in a lay-by off the Pyebush roundabout. Her body was covered by soil until a passer-by spotted a ribcage sticking out of the earth on March 22.

The popular young woman, a minicab controller in Fulham, whose family originally came from Tipperary in Ireland, lived in Gliddon Road, in West Kensington, London.

She had lived in London for a number of years and attended The Sacred Heart School, in Hammersmith, where she would often socialise with friends.

Police say she was last seen by a friend in Fulham Palace Road, near Charing Cross Hospital, on October 18 but none of her friends or family had seen her since.

Craig Roberts, 45, a neighbour, said: "This is really sad. She's been missing for such a long time and I knew it didn't look good. It's a real shame."

The investigation was originally launched by Detective Superintendent John Donlon from Thames Valley Police.

He told the Free Press: "Teams of officers have been going through dozens of missing persons reports from around the country.

"The description sounded very much like that of Sinead and we were working very closely with the Metropolitan Police Service to establish an identification.

"DNA tests have proved that the skeletal remains were Sinead's. The Metropolitan Police have launched a murder inquiry and we are providing every assistance we can."

If you have any information call the Incident Room at Belgravia Police Station on 020 7321 9251 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 32-year-old man from Aylesbury was interviewed in relation to Sinead's disappearance on Wednesday and released on bail pending further inquiries.