HOSPITAL staff today paid tributes to talented and well-liked doctor Emma Louise Chambers after her death in a car crash.

Dr Chambers, 26, died when her Peugeot car was in a rush hour crash with three other vehicles on the A354 near Puddletown.

Friends and colleagues at the Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester were shocked after the senior house doctor, who worked in orthopaedics, was killed on Tuesday.

Mr Ian Barlow, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, said: "Emma's death has deprived us all at the hospital of a wonderful colleague.

"She was training to be a general practitioner and had already proved to be a major asset to the hospital.

"Emma had recently joined us in the orthopaedic department for a six-month post and her warmth and enthusiasm impressed us all. She was a very talented young doctor who was well-liked by staff and patients alike.

"We are all left with a huge sense of loss and extend our deepest sympathy to Emma's family and boyfriend."

Dr Chambers was driving her white Peugeot on the A354 on Tuesday evening when she was involved in a collision with a van, Mercedes and Renault.

She qualified from Southampton Medical School in 1999 and worked as a house officer at Dorset County Hospital from August 1999 to February 2000.

Dr Chambers returned to the hospital as part of her general practitioner training and spent six months in the paediatrics department as a senior house officer from February to August 2002.

She started work in orthopaedics in August 2002.

Dr Phil Wylie, a consultant paediatrician with whom Dr Chambers worked, said: "Emma had a lovely manner and was wonderful with the children. Her death is a great loss and she will be sadly missed."

Dr Chambers was originally from Fordingbridge in Hampshire.