[duncanhead]

cheers mate, but doing a google or yahoo search brings up too many adverts for s/w fixes etc...
looked in MS technet and found this:
o activate this fix, follow these steps:1. Quit Outlook.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Locate, and then click to select the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Outloo k
5. After you select the key that is specified in step 4, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD.
6. Type UseInetcommCS, and then press ENTER.
7. Right-click UseInetcommCS, and then click Modify.
8. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
9. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.

I've done this and see if the error occurs again....
regards Duncan