Disco door locks

Now before you all tell me to SEARCH, I have done and am still struggling.

My 3dr disco has the usual problem with a dodgy passenger door lock. Prob'ly that darned little spring I thinks having looked at several threads.
Now Busters photo guide is great - tells me all I need to know 'cept how to open the door when neither handle will release the catch.
After much struggling I have the door card off, not easy when you're a fat bloke doing the job from the drivers side, removed the lock actuator, wiggled, jiggled, pryed, poked and got just a bit mad with the thing. Even took them drivers side card off to see how it all works but to no avail.

I CAN NOT GET THE (BLEEP BLEEP) DOOR OPEN.

Any suggestions, advice or ideas would be appreciated.

No ideas at all?

Has the metal rod inside the door come away from the inside door handle?

Thanks Andy - it's all connected. Still wont open. The lock is unlocked but the latch won't unlatch.

I remember replacing that little spring in the passenger door being a wretched fiddly job. I've been trying to find a schematic on-line or in the Haynes manual which shows how the rods work to the lock, but have not come up with anything. In theory pulling either the wire rod connected to the inside handle or to the outside handle should open the door... There's no chance the rod coming down from the door lock button isn't coming up properly and somehow the door is still locked and not responding to pulls on the other rods, have you tried pulling that rod up (if you can even reach it)? Are the rods moving at all or are they solid? Any sounds coming from the lock when the rods are pulled?

Sorry, zero help but I do feel your pain and am giving you a bump!

WOOOHOOO!!!! Finally got the door open. Hooked a loop of wire onto the bottom of the rod and with much pulling, jerking and pratting about with the lock the door latch released. Now to replace the stoopid little spring.