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Re reading my post and thinking back, there was not much more. I used the plastic bit dangling off the bleed hose to secure the tube on really tight to be able to force the liquid through. I removed the lever and all the hose from the bars so that I could move it around freely. Not sure exactly what sorted it though.
I would also try and (carefully) put the freestroke and reach adjustment in a neutral position. I read somewhere that in certain positions it can cut off or limit the flow within the lever.
cjr-
Right, just unwrapped my bar tape and had a mess around with it. As soon as I unclamp the shifter, all play in the lever is gone! Once I reclamp it and pump the brake a few times, it comes straight back. Repeated this a few times to confirm.
I have the hoses attached under the tape on my Canyon Aero bars with electrical tape and I wondered if clamping the shifter was pulling the hose so I clamped the shifter higher up the bars to give the hose some slack, and, as if by magic, no play :)
I won't have time to try a bleed until the weekend but I'm fairly confident that it will be ok now.
My guess from how much bar tape was bunched up under the front of the shifter is that I've hit a pot hole and the shifter has moved down the bars slightly, pulling the hose with it. No idea why this would cause the symptoms that we both experienced though I'm so glad I found your post!
Kanj
That's a huge relief to hear! Was worried something might have snapped off inside and jammed it up. I'll try detaching it from the bars but if you have any further details or clues, that would be really helpful.