Thanks everyone for the advice, much appreciated!

so pretty certain I will go with a SIEG Super X2P HiTorque Mill, just have to wait until back in stock....

If you were starting a fresh (with a mind to eventually convert to cnc) would you go r8 or mt3?

there was an Axminster version forsake on eBay at an ok price but it had a tilting column and I believe I'd be better of with the sturdier non tilt fixed column.

cheers james