Any help/insights/ suggestions, gratefully received !

Engine will not idle, in fact seems to cut out at anything less than around 1500 rpm. Every junction or stop has become a choke pulling/ engine screaming nightmare, just to keep her running. Serviced about 2k ago, but other than that, nothing has been touched under the bonnet, and everything is standard. Mileage is only 17k, so don`t think it`s anything worn.

sounds like the floater in the carb is gone

Yeah I'd guess at that too. Just check that it's all bolted down right too and the gaskets aren't perished (although I couldn't see that being an issue).

Cheers for that, both - any idea`s on availability/ cost of gaskets and float assembly ?

Not too much, try ebay or I'm sure someone on here might have one spare.

Search on here for carb rebuild kit, you can get them for 1.7s for about 25-30 if you shop about.