Thanks for all the suggestions, now to await the opportunity to visit some shops to try some. As a thought, anyone use padded cycling shorts (underneath regular bike jeans), or should I just man-up and bear it??

Could anyone recommend a pair of jeans which I can ride in for more than an hour, without being cut in half up the crutch?

Norfolk coast - Kingfisher cafe at Walcott on the coast road between Gt Yarmouth and Cromer. Usually plenty of bikers at weekends..