Thanks for your replies. The mechanic feels the clutch has gone. I'm still alittle shocked that the clutch has gone after only 42k miles of careful driving.

I have researched online and purchased a 3-piece clutch kit that includes the slave cylinder. I have also sourced a mechanic for the labour. There is one last thing that I am to purchase and thats the clutch fluid.

Can someone please a) confirm it is acutally clutch fluid that I require (and not a different type of fluid/oil)? b) suggest a good quality clutch fluid that will look after the new clutch I'm having installed?

I hope this all fixes the problem as I will have a large dent in my pocket if it doesn't.

Thank you.

Edited by dac1 on 01/08/2014 at 21:55

Again, thanks all for your replies.

I'm glad you advise to get the Slave Cylinder and the Clutch replaced at the same time, as it's the same effort (labour) to do both.

I bought 500ml of DOT4 clutch/brake fluid in an attempt to rule out low fluid as the problem, but I cannot get to the reservoir as it has parts in the way. However, viewing it again I can see the fluid is level with the Max level so I guess it isn't low.

I tried driving it yesterday to see if, by chance, all was fine again but the problem still remained, although this time when I changed gear (from third to fourth) at 30mph and gave it a healthy rev the revs went high but there was no traction (i.e. forward motion) which tells me the clutch is slipping (sounded like it anyway).

Here's another question, I have had a clutch go on an old ('92) Fiesta (years ago) and that clutch deteriorated over the course of a year where the slipping clutch got worse and worse but I was always able to select gear. So why does a 2006 Focus clutch behaves all fine one moment then just goes kerput, no gradual decline?