UV background missing

[orbiter]

I have come back to a model I was half way through. When I go to fine tune some of the UV mapping all I get is the standard "ABCDABCD" checker board not the image attached to the material.

As can be seen from the attachment the images are there and they fit on to the model ( it might not be a great model but it is at least coloured in)

The material has the right image name, the image is seen in the Outliner window and the right material is applied to the surface.

When I select a face and then Right mouse to select UV mapping instead of the nice background image I just get the daft checkerboard "auvBG"

I really do not want to have to lay out all my UV again!!!
Help please nice people