Thanks for your advice - 50 years of experience can't be a bad recommendation - however, when I tried to buy some liquid paraffin from the ASDA chemist last night ( the only place still open) they did not stock it any more as they have "alternative" and "improved" medical products to offer.
Undaunted I bought a bottle of baby oil as the next best thing, so I will mix a solution up with this and try other chemist shops until I find one that still sells liquid parafin.
Thanks for our help and advice - Merry Christmas!