Hodgey5

Hi my Transit 2004 2.4 diesel has stopped going into neutral to allow it to start. Auto/manual trans, trans lights on dash just started flashing when attempting to start but there is no action and the gear indicator only remains on 1. Just before the problem occurred the starter was making a screeching grinding sound on occasion when trying to start. Normally the screeching sound would happen on a couple of starting attempts then it would start as normal. Now the auto lights are flashing and there seems to be no power at all getting to the starter and it will not move out of 1 into N. Please help.