Just saw that the guides are not in the main Focus section so could be easily missed - I found it by the search function - 

Anyone have any further advice after I tried everything with the screwdriver trick without luck.  I'll have another go next weekend before I have to go through the grill or something more extreme...

 

 

sorry to hear about your bonnet lock problem fella and shame the screwdriver trick dident work as it did when I changed my front grill.

hopefully some one else might come along with a fix for you if not hope you get it sorted with out having to break your grill

I had this happen about a month back I tryed the screwdriver but had no luck I in my case the normal thing that happens was not my problem mine the flexible bar that go's between the key lock and the actual bonnet lock had come away on the inside so the key could not turn the bonnet lock. I had to take the front under bumber cover of and put my hand up and undo the two 10mm bolts this allowed me to lift the bonnet and get the screwdriver in to the cross and pop the lock not easy

Thanks for your responses.  Even though I can see evidence of the cable moving when I turn the key, should I be seeing the white plastic bit turning as well, and if not then does this mean the cable could be broken?  The key is turning both ways with some light resistance and springing back to vertical when I let go.

 

Thinking about this overnight I think I will have to try the same thing as you, taking off the bolts holding down the locking mechanism from under the car.  Once the bolts are off, is it just a case of pushing the mechanism forward until the lock barrel drops out and the bonnet can be lifted?  Then I'm thinking of just leaving this off and using a screwdriver through the resulting hole to open the bonnet directly to save this hassle the next time.

You have to move the lock away and then it will lift but the wire will stop it if you can get your hands in without bracken the wire lead then you can unplug it and lift the bonnet  

Ah, OK I see now that the bolts are on the engine side - not sure how the access is on the 1.6 TDCi engine so will look into it.  I have seen some Youtube videos showing how to take the grill off without breaking it so might try that first and see if the cable can work the lock mechanism.