>who is the local UK dealer, (hopefully around manchester) ,telephone
>number address,email address?

I just went and got the local UK rep address from the Microchip site
and called them directly.

So for the UK (fresh from www.microchip.com)

Microchip Offices
                      AZ Microchip Tech., Ltd. - Sales
                      Microchip House
                      505 Eskdale Road
                      Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 5TU
                      England

                      TEL: +44-118-921-5800
                      FAX: +44-118-921-5820

                      Email: emma.leverett@microchip.com

Brian
Brian Jones
Java Technology Centre
IBM Hursley