It is a 2002 reg.The AA are puzzled. We have checked out the crankshaft sensor, correct fuel, fuel filter,etc. It has been suggested that it is the injector pump, but why does it run ok after a squirt of easy start? Any ideas please.

Could be that ur glow plugs r not getting hot enough . . .
Do u wait for them to heat up before cranking it over ?
It might be time to replace them . . .
The Ether that u spray in will ignite very easily & once the engine fires a few times, the glowplugs will heat up from the combustion in the cylinders & keep the engine going, normally . . . So, l suspect that the glowplugs r getting old & weak or the electric supply to them is faulty . . Lotsa luck !

Has it been left standing for a while? or been driving while very low on petrol?

Try removing the fuel pump fuse, then starting the engine. After a few moments of running it will stall, as all the fuel in the line has been used up.

Then put the fuse back in & turn the engine over until it starts. Try several times, it should clear out the fuel lines. After this, take it for a drive & really warm the engine up, taking the revs higher than usual before u change gear.

Sounds like there is a fuelling issue, the easy start just lowers the amount of fuel needed to start because it explodes very easily. It could also be ECU related, but these r usually quite reliable.

GLOW PLUGS
normally fail after about 60,000 miles