Just taken my broken lens to Wilkinson Cameras in Kendal, hopefully their engineers can fix it and I can avoid the cost of a replacement one. Apparently Nikon no longer make this lens and a similar replacement 24-105 I think is only part of a body bundle. So I have been googling and possible the 16-85mm VR lens could be a good replacement but it sounds tohave better optics and focus than the currently broken one, which I suppose it should as it costs a fair old chunk of money. Not sure if I should go the Sigma or Tamron route instead. Still the lens came up with an error code in the view finder r21 or e21 I seem to remember so hopefully this will be easily fixable!!

Roll on the phone call to let me know the damage!

***UPDATE***

Just had the cost of the repair and apparently the silent motor mechanism is broken so it will cost almost the price of a new lens to repair. So I have taken the plunge and bought a Nikon 16-85 VR lens. Hopefully get some photos taken soon.