Not had a chance to venture out yet! But will check it later regarding pulling the ball up - from memory when i tried this yesterday morning that did do the trick so I think we may have narrowed it down to the flapper!

However on the flip side am inundated with work and am taking some horseriding r and r after work so will look when I get home around 10pm tonight and start fiddling with the loo again!

Novo no thread drifts please - I don't care for toilet problems on top of toilet problems

Yes'm.

The "flapper" is the flush valve. When you flip the flush lever, the flush valve is opened (flapper rises). Water from the tank rushes into the bowl - the rise in water level in the bowl starts a siphon action that empties the contents of the bowl down the drain. While the water level in the bowl is rising, the level in the tank is simultaneously falling. There is a float attached to the refill valve, so that when the level in the tank falls, the float drops and the refill valve opens. As water fills the tank, the float rises again and eventually reaches a point where the refill valve closes. At this point the flush cycle is complete. Since you have a problem with the refill valve not shutting off, either the valve is broken or the float is not raising the lever enough to close the valve. The float can become waterlogged, or can become misadjusted.

I have a limited tolerance for fussing about with the innards of a toilet. As someone else pointed out, it's pretty easy to replace the whole works; there are kits readily available that contain all the parts you will need. If you go that route, get a spare kit as well, so you can fix the loo when it breaks on Sunday night (been there, bought the spares).

Righto jeeves AM NOW GOING IN - if I haven't re-posted in a half hour then I have either drowned or have been sucked down the pan - either way it won't be pretty.

(well as not pretty as putting your hand in a toilet can be )

Right update - is not the flapper valve that shuts properly - i shut the water off and manually pulled it up and let it shut and it stops what water was left in the cistern going into the loo.

Next (will have to look at the thread again sorry)

Moo come backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

OK have tried lifting the ball cock up and that doesn't stop it - so logic would dictate that it is this valve stem thingy which I will go to Home Hardware tomorrow lunchtime to get a part - fix when i get home and wow you with my plumbing expertise!

Thanks all the world would be a messier place without you!

Edited to add probably going to buy a flapper valve too!