COLLEAGUES of a woman who was found dead by her cleaner at the bottom of the stairs in her Droitwich home have paid tribute to her dedication and hard work.

Staff at Worcester City Council, where Rita Lee worked as a money adviser, have said how devastated they were at the news of her death.

Mrs Lee had worked at the council from 1990, until September 2000, and helped set up the money adviser section.

She took early retirement due to ill health when she had a fall and fractured her pelvis, and felt it was the right time to retire, said personnel manager Barry Briscoe.

"She was a lovely person, and everyone is devastated," he added.

"We were only talking to her the other day, and she seemed so bright and bubbly.

"She had a difficult life, but had coped with it well, and it really is a tragic shame."

Mrs Lee was found dead at her home in Florence Avenue, at 9am on Wednesday, January 9.

An inquest into her death was opened and adjourned by Worcestershire coroner Victor Round, last Thursday.

The inquest was told how the mother-of-two had lived alone since her husband committed suicide several years ago.

She had a history of depression and problems with alcohol.

Advisers at Worcester's Citizen's Advice Bureau, where Mrs Lee worked for 12 years, five as deputy manager, also spoke of the 58-year-old's dedication and hard work.

Michael Gardner, manager of the bureau, said she was a very able woman who was highly-committed to her job.

Mrs Lee had left the Citizen's Advice Bureau in 1990, for a new job at Worcester City Council. However, she remained in contact with the Bureau, and was still helping it up until the time of her death.

Mrs Lee was also a trustee for Worcester Municipal Charities, and chairman Paul Griffith spoke of her compassion and knowledge of the benefits system.

"She had a very real sympathy with disadvantaged people and recently told us how she found it very difficult to walk past a homeless person on the street without giving them some money," said Mr Griffith.

"She had an amazing mixture of skills and will be very sadly missed."

Mrs Lee's funeral is being held at New St Martin's Church, London Road, Worcester, on Friday, January 18, at 11am.