cheers for that, the only place with the items i need isn't open till tomorrow, but i'm away till friday so will have to wait til then now..again cheers everybody for help..
Don't get into the carb until you have exhausted all other possibilities. Yes - the 'tick' is the fuel pump - at least it's working, and the carb isn't flooding - or it would be ticking much more!
Look for more reliable 'friends' !!
All's well guy's, the coil had been wired the wrong way round so was producing a negative polarity and the points were trashed and the carb was running too rich... all sorted now though and she purrs with that unique moggy purr that everybody loves to hear... thatnks again for all your advice..