Thanx for the responses. It has not been suggested to replace the right side, however, it was suggested to replace the bushes on the control arms but I am not sure that would solve the problem. I am not a mechanic, but is it possible that the left assembly has been displaced a mm or two due to an accident earlier in the cars life, causing the distance from the inner and outer joints to increase slightly causing the play on the shaft? (I bought it secondhand as a "never been in an accident" vehicle, however, a tyre replacement revealed a bent rim and a later accident revealed some body-putty...)