Hi all,
Thanks to everyone for the sympathetic messages. Not what you want but I suppose these things happen!
Anyways, quick update... Ended up getting it repaired from a guy called Phil Bell in Northallerton as it was only 2 minutes from where I work so nice and convenient, along with doing a good job on my gf's mini. Picked it up last night and from looking at it this morning he's done a very good job. Here's some pics of the final repair job....
before:
after: