Ok an update to this drama, finally got car running again! turned out the reason it would start then shortly cut out was it was trying to run just off the cold start injector as with it removed it would not even start.
While turning over the metering flap would move slightly but not enough to push the plunger sending fuel to the injectors had someone give it a little extra nudge and car started but as soon as they stopped holding the flap it cut out.
Originally I only changed the fuel distributor so I then changed the airbox/metering flap assembly as well and it started first time everytime!

However I now have a misfire which wasn't present before, oh the joy.