Hi there Kevben, read your reply again...you did a bit of sparking for a housing estate you say. Well now, tell me what I did wrong here.
Mt light on the back bedroom ceiling was shorting, coming on and off, so I went to B&Q and bought a complete ceiling fitment, and as per the internet my son and I fitted it to the ceiling, put the economy bulb in and the shade and switched on the light. It didn't work. Got an electrician in and he said it was the pull switch at the side of the wall, so he "mended it" but it worked for a day and then blanked us again. With your knowledge what do you think is happening, our house is detached and built 1959 and we are only the 2nd family here (only one son and me left I might add, the rest of the family are abroad). Cheers GW.