....on my girlfriends Metro 114SLI!!!!

Its never happened before yesterday.......she drove back from Coventry on Sunday evening no problems. Started it Monday no problems - drove about 40 or so miles that day - lots of stop starts due to her job. Drove home no probs. The car wasnt started all day Tuesday. She started it on yesterday morning no problems - drove to the station & left it there all day until about 5pm. Got in it & it started no problems - drove 5 miles up the road to go the chippy. Got back in it after placing an order......wouldnt start!!!!

I went out to get it going for her & found that all the dash lights seem bright & normal as do the headlights come on fine. When we tried to start it & made a series of loud clicking noises obviously from the starter motor. Smacked the starter wondering if it had stuck - tried again.....no change!!!

Gave the car a push start no problems - I turned it off immediately & tried to start it again - still clicking!!!! So gave it another push start (thank fuck it was only a metro!LOL!) - car drove fine, lights all ok. Drove 5 miles home again. Stopped the car - it started up first time this time no probs. I tested the voltage 14.5 - so it seems to be charging no probs. Left it overnight - tried it this morning & again it started fine!!!

She has complained of a 'screaming' noise occasionally when she tries to start it over the past few weeks.

Would these series of events suggest either....

i.) Bad connection somewhere - alternator, starter??
ii) Battery goosed - not holding charge at times?
iii) Starter motor tired & on its way out??

Is there any way of testing the battery with a multimeter...not just voltage but the quality of it??

Cheers for any help guys!!!