Another update: Was driving rather flamboyantly on a very fun, bumpy road near me (Burys Bank road, through Greenham Common). Great fun, but once i dipped the clutch coming up to a junction, the engine cut out, and refused to start several times.
After being towed home with and Astra and some electrical wire

p) I called Green Flag out to look at it. It would rev fine but misfire, was down on power, but more importantly would not idle, just died instantly if revs let off.
Took it to the same guys above, who have discovered (yep, you guessed it) the timing chain jumped a few teeth, which was creating a vacuum inside the cylinders. Luckily it did not snap, so it was only a £250 fix. My mechanic said that if i had driven it for more than the few miles i did (left foot braking) it probably would've snapped off, basically wrecking the engine.
VERY common when relative to most newer cars, only 1.2, but if these symptoms occur (with no dash lights) avoid driving if possible.
Me, i've got a Suzuki Alto for 4 days. Lets see if i can have it in a ditch later.
