Ipswich: He was a pipe-fitting apprentice – she was the beautiful girl consuming his every thought.

Whether his love was returned or not will forever be a mystery, but he made no secret of his longing and affection for her, his “Buxom Princess”...

It may be hard to believe but back in the 1960s Suffolk had its very own Banksy.

And he showed off his artistic talent through an intriguing mural in the basement of Ipswich Hospital’s maternity block.

Down in the depths of the building, pipes cover the ceiling, pumping water and warmth through the ten-storey Heath Road unit.

Electrical panels dot the white-washed walls and the heat in the underground floor is sleep-inducing.

In short, it is claustrophobic and a little bit too warm for comfort.

But then you turn a corner and suddenly the life-like charcoal impression of a wistful-looking beauty stares back at you.

The secret of the Buxom Princess mural has been kept by electrical engineering staff since the maternity block opened in 1969. There have been many stories about where the artwork came from, but Russell Balson is only convinced by one.

The electrical engineer, who has served the hospital for 34 years, said: “There are quite a few romantic stories about it but we believe it was created by a pipe-fitting apprentice and this is the girl he was in love with.”

The mural has been rediscovered again and again by new members of staff, moved by the sight.

One observer was so taken by the juxtaposition of the setting and portrait they have pencilled next to it: “In the bowels of 20th-century industry and commerce, art still has a massive part to play.”

Mr Balson said: “The first couple of times you come down here you don’t really notice it but, when you do, you are quite taken aback.”

Although around 3,500 people work at the hospital, very few know about the mural of the Buxom Princess which has been maintained and shielded by engineering staff for decades.

“We are very protective of it and won’t let anyone paint over it or cover it up,” said Mr Balson.

“I suppose we feel like it belongs to us and the apprentice was obviously very talented.

“You don’t expect to see something like this down here but it’s a lovely picture.”