ok cool getting somewhere (I posted that without seeing the replies /\) so the inner lights are the fogs and the outside are the brake lights? yeh the outside ones are on all the time when I have the main beams on (nothing when just the ignition is on)

just took the switch off and connected it up and the same thing - on all the time when the main lights are on. anyone know which fuse it is on the fuse board? it's either that or the switch itself is knackered inside, that's the only 2 things I can think of.