[mtempsch]

Anyone ?, I've jacked the car up to see if I can get it from the bottom but there's that much going on I cant get my hand up to the latch nevermind a pair of mole grips to tug the release cable

There must be a way

If I recall correctly, I read a post a long time ago about someone getting at the latch from the side by removing a wheel and the arch liner.
Might be worth scouting it out on another car of the same model first, to see if that looks feasible. Or with the hood open on another car you might spot a route for a poke-y/hook-y tool that isn't obvious from the outside.

 

[mtempsch]

Right I unclipped all the underside were the handle is and revealed this cable. Can someone confirm this is the bonnet cable ?

No joy on googling that number though, but rubber grommet looks like what's on the ones for sale online.

Is it broken on the handle end? Then wise grips on the end of the wire might do it w(o poking about in theengine bay.

 

[mtempsch]

I managed to get to the root of the problem, a knackered bonnet release lever, It was cracked and the spring had gone and only God knows were thats headed off to

.
When I pulled the trim away I freed the cable from the handle I release the cable like you do on a bikes brakes and gave it a tug and up it popped so the cables itselfs fine,
Question, without the handle just the cable is this an MOT fail ?. It's due Weds for a MOT and I'm pushed for time to pick a spare in time from the scrappers

Don't think it would be on our (Swedish) equivalent, as long as it opens and the mechanism has the security catch to prevent the bonnet from flying up in working order... I believe those are the only criteria.
I'd carve a bit of wood or plastic to go round the wire and with an indent for the ferrule, so it is on there reasonably securely and is easily gripped as a pull handle. Or maybe grab some

(low temp plastic), and and form a pull around the ferrule, as I have some of that on hand.