Thanks for all your feedback everyone!!

To start to answer some questions.........the sensors I have bought are ceramic in colour and have been bought from a VX main dealer, in GM wrapping, part no. 090495144............the l-shaped body of the sensor means that you cannot seem to fit them to the pad before you have fitted the calliper as it gets in the way. The only way seems to fit them through the apeture of the calliper onto the top of the pad, but there is resistence to it "clicking" into place.

Lizzie.....listen up (gorgeous, babe, hun, whatever is PC these days)....I did this very same job 2 months ago.
Pad on floor (on it's bottom edge), anti-rattle spring compressed to maximum, 3rd hand to drop the sensor in, bit of coppaslip on edges of pad, pad dropped in to place on caliper bracket, caliper refitted, brake pedal pumped back up, job done.
That really is how it works, and pads/sensors is no more than 20 minutes for both sides start to finish.
Like I said, I'll be seeing the parents in a couple of weeks or so in Orpington....and if you are truly stuck then I'll happily stop by on the way back and show you how it's done.
No charge, no bull*hit, but you can make the tea and entertain the missus/kids while the job is underway.