I agree. I was a bit reluctant to remove the fan as I'm such a novice at vehicle repairs and wanted to take off as little as possible, but yep, I'd certainly do so in future as it is so easy to remove.

Must say a big thanks to everyone who has posted pics and information on the forum regarding water pump diagnosis and replacement procedure. I know it's probably only a small job to many, but it gave me the confidence to attempt it, and it feels great to have completed it successfully (whilst saving a fair bit of money at the same time).

Cheers.