I have a 2008 ford focus 16 petrol  when you turn the key to start I have no lights and after I do this 5 or 6 times it starts up for a few seconds and dies, anyone have this problem before, I have heard the cluster can play up , any help would be much appreciated. 

your explanation isn't very clear

you appear to be saying it behaves as if it has a total dead battery - but keep trying, the car will magically start but won't keep going ?

 

that would be a very odd scenario (of maybe more than one fault)

 

check its perfect and or fit a new battery - remake the earth points to the car body around the battery

remember these wear the starter ring gear and can refuse to push the pinion out so it won't crank just click - if a manual put in gear and push the car 6" and try again - it often works

the clusters do die - and cause needles to flicker or go backwards - it can impact the immobiliser set up

with the cluster awake (key in and turned - check the manual) a red circular light about 7 mm across above the mileage flashes to say immobiliser upset - or is extinguished to say immobiliser happy ....  remove the key and the cluster stays awake and the light flashes to say immobiliser is again active

starting then dying is a common one of residual fuel pressure gets it to fire for a split second - but the pump is now no longer providing fuel rail pressure - so it dies straight away - but this should be a one off situation - unless you are getting the pump to run on crank but stops running as you release the key...  if that's the case you need someone to explain which bit tells the pump to behave...