The sudden death of a young Falmouth beauty therapist remained shrouded in mystery this week as police continued their investigations into the tragedy.

The body of 28-year-old Chantel Davies, who worked for the Western Goya Beauty Salon in Killigrew Street, was found in her home in Meneage Road, Helston, last Thursday morning.

Police said yesterday a 43-year-old Helston man arrested in relation to the incident remained on police bail and the death was still being treated as suspicious.

Her boss at Western Goya, Annie Bassett, told the Packet she was still in shock at what had happened and could see no reason for anything wrong.

"She worked for me part-time for the past two-and-a-half years as a beauty therapist. She also ran her own mobile unit," she said.

It was shortly after 9am on Thursday when following a call from a relative concerned for Miss Davies' welfare police forced their way into the detached property.

The house and surrounding grass verge was cordoned off. In front of the property a Peugeot 205 car and a blue BMW motorbike were parked.

Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Guyan Fernando was flown into RNAS Culdrose to inspect the house and then to examine Miss Davies' body at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

A post-mortem examination was carried out, but the cause of death has not yet been revealed. An inquest was opened and adjourned on Friday, but coroner's officer Elaine Parry said the police were still conducting enquiries and had not yet passed the case file to the coroner.

Rumours Miss Davies may have taken her own life have been circulating in Helston, but police spokeswoman WPc Sharon Newman said yesterday the man arrested remained on bail.

"We still have to say we are treating it as a suspicious death," she said. "A man is on bail. He has not had his bail cancelled and he is due to report back to the police on May 21."

Miss Davies, whose mother lives at Manaccan and whose brother is understood to work for a local courier and taxi firm, ran a mobile beauty business, as well as working part-time in Falmouth.

She had previously worked at the New Outlook Beauty Salon in Coinagehall Street, Helston.

A former student at Mullion School, Miss Davies was a member of the school choir and took part in an acclaimed production of The Sound of Music.

Popular with her peers, she was an active member of the school's community taskforce, regularly helping out with Meals on Wheels deliveries to the aged and infirm in the community.