Thanks for your help with this, Bones. An amazing stroke of good fortune that you use this forum too! Thanks also to Vibes in Plymouth for their cooperation.
To say that myself and Neil, both busy chaps, have expended a fair bit of time and energy on this over the past five days would be an understatement.
As far as Yodel and the Newton Abbott depot are concerned, hopefully it is a case of bad apples rather than anything endemic. Hopefully some light can be made of it and the person responsible face appropriate consequences, As far as I am concerned, they are not only taking advantage of customers but their colleagues, supervisors and the company as a whole. That just isn't on.
I think this bears repeating - [b]Catalogue all of your gear. Record serial numbers and take detailed pictures. If there is anything specific to your instrument, such as damage, photograph it. Mark everything with a UV pen.[/b]
Once again, thanks to Bones. I am sorry for your loss