Focus diesel wont start properly -engine malfunction

Tape old key body to your new key body

Try to start it that will mean the RFID gubbins are in the right place before you go messing more.

Any developments?

no, I still havent been able to clear the P1260 fault code
I hope to get a new key tomorrow

I got a new key, now all seems to be working.
this - *RFID gubbins are in the right place*

bit of a painful lesson learnt- a week off work

Fair play to you alric,  very persistent. No way I'd have been so dedicated to it.

thanks, but necessity is the mother of something, i didnt really have any choice.

And what about the ordinal fault, did the new battery sort it out?

The original battery seemed fine,was running well but there seemed to be some kind of voltage drop overnight, but as it was after the first really cold night that it didnt run properly, i got the new battery, the old one was worn out.
The instrument cluster is a common fault, there were dry joints on it, i did get fault codes implying non or faulty communications between units, which have gone now, so the instrument cluster must have been a problem