A nurse who was working at the hospital which treated the Duchess of Cambridge when telephone hoaxers struck earlier this week has been found dead.

Jacintha Saldanha was found an address near the King Edward VII Hospital in London this morning.

The hospital said in a statement: "We can confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha Saldanha.

"Jacintha has worked at the King Edward VII Hospital for more than four years. She was an excellent nurse and a well-respected and popular member of staff with all her colleagues.

"We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital has been supporting her at this difficult time."

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The Australian radio hosts involved in the hoax call will not return to their show until further notice "out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy", said a spokeswoman for their radio station.

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