thanks guys - will check tomorrow (if weather allows)

Yipppeeeee! It finally passed woop wooop wooop lololololol Took it on a long run (25 miles) and it was tested again immediately and passed. So it wasn't the Cat phew

What a christmas present!!!!

Thanks you guys so so very much for all your tips and advice - much appreciated.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL XXXXXXXXXX

Nice one sue, glad yer back on the road again and a merry xmas to you...

well done and merry christmas

Glad to hear you got sorted. Just had similar radiator issues with my old BMW which I was positive wasn't the radiator as it was only about a year old having been replaced just before I got the car. Like you I was losing large amounts of coolant with no obvious leaks & thought it might be the head gasket (was worried the previous owner had overheated it before fitting the new water pump, thermostat & rad.). Soon ruled that out as it was losing so much that it would have been filling the sump or belching out steam had it ben hgf. Then spotted a small drop of antifreeze around the front valance & got a £25 replacement rad from the scrappy - job done.

Well done Sue and OH, just don't break it over the hols, have a good one