Thanks to everyone for comments on my previous thread.
The noise from the bottom end seems to have gone?? I changed the oil today and took the car for a run. It seems to pull as well as it did before I garaged it.
I took the oil filler cap off and there were a few drops of oil being spat out and it seems to be pressurised. If I put my hand over it I can feel some air pressure.
Does this mean that the rings are on the way out??
Thanks