Well, I just went out and got some energy saving light bulbs (yay!).

And I put took out the one in my bed side lamp (a 100W bulb) and put in a 15W energy saving bulb. Turned it on and ... tzzzt ... POP! It flashed on for about half a second then popped.

I had a look at the light socket (bayonet fitting) and it seems a bit bashed up (worked fine with my ordinary bulbs though).

So, my question is, where can I get hold of replacement bayonet lamp sockets and how much will they be? I've removed the old one so I can take it in to the shop to have a look but who will sell them? Homebase? Do it all (do they even still exist)? Or am I best going to some little DIY store with an old man wearing a flat cap and lue overalls behind the counter?

TVM for any help!

Most of the larger DIY places should stock them, not sure about the variance in types of fitting though. Would a regular white plastic screw together affair work or is it something more specialist?

You should be able to get a fitting quite easily. Big DIY stores are the type of place where you pays your money and you takes your chances- they may have it or they may not.

The little hardware store is one of those places where they are bound to have one in the back, if you can find such a shop.

The best place, who should be able to get hold of one even if they don't have it is an electrical wholesalers. Look in the Yellow Pages for your local wholesaler.

Looks fairly standard to me.

Screw thread on the bottom to attach to the lamp.
Screw thread around the top to attach plastic lamp "shielding" to it.
Two screw tightened contacts at the bottom for live and neutral.

Having said that I can't find a picture of one anywhere.

I think I'll take it to work tomorrow and have a look round town.

It might be easier (and in fact cheaper) to buy a really cheap & nasty replacement bedside lamp and cannibalise it for the light fitting. You'll probably find they're all pretty standard, and one ripped out of some £3 poundland tat will be just as good (probably identical, in fact) as one you buy at a hardware store for a fiver.

Ooh, good idea!

There's a poundland in town as well

I'll have a looksee!

B&Qs and similar DIY stores
Tesco Extra (or at least the one nearby) had some too.

Sainsburys were selling really cheap lamps for about £2 recently.

Got one from a little DIY store for £1.49

Bargaintastic!