Strange of me I know, but the colour combi looks nice, but I understand something is wrong.

very strange but like michaella and marquerite i think its quiet nice

I think you could be right about the pot Marguerite - I shall have to sort it out soon tho' as the brown tips just crumble when you touch them. Thanks for your help.

Note: All the leaves are showing identical symptoms,therefore this is not an above ground pathogen 'attack'. Because the symptoms appear on every leaf, irrelevent of position this is not wind damage. If the plant was starved or pot bound the symptoms would be over the whole leaf area and not just at the ends and then dying back. I suspect, but cannot be 100% sure, that this is an issue relating in some way to the root system and some form of mineral soil contamination. (a) If the container is metal there could be some soil contamination and the contaminants are being transported up to the leaves. (b) The drainage holes appear to be seaping 'mineral salts' which if building up to high concentrations could be the contamination. (c) The drainage holes could be blocked by the congealed mineral salts, causing waterlogging within the pot rootball. (d) There could be some soil borne insect affecting the root system but as the plant shows no sign of wilt I do not think this is the problem.

Modus operandi: Get a new pot of slightly larger dimension - terracota or plastic (not metal), 'crock ' the bottom with some old terracota pieces or gravel, obtain some clean potting compost and add some horticultural grit or small gravel particles to keep the compost open. Remove plant from container and tease out as much of the olde soil that you can from the root ball, better still wash out all the root ball until the roots are clean of soil. Repot in the new pot, with the clean compost making sure you get the soil well into the core of the root ball. Water well in then hopefully see new life begin.

Or could it be that this is a specific variegation normal for this plant? Personally I find it rather attractive.
What is your history with this plant, Terry ?
Does anyone know what the plant is called?

I was taught that firing of the tips meant water content either mineral or pollution was the problem.

Thanks to you all for you all for your invaluable help and suggestions. This plant (I think Xela it's a nandina domestica) is in the original plastic pot it was bought in years ago. I'm more and more convinced about Lori and Dioon's theory of mineral pollution. Could it have anything to do with our water being extremely hard and the fact I have an automatic timer-sprinkler?? Dioon, when would it be a good time to do the repotting? My neighbour was saying she reckons we have to wait till the end of the year but I'm afraid it might too late by then and although it may look extremely pretty and unusual, I'd rather follow the advice of my on-line experts ....

Sorry I did not think the plants ID was an issue. Yes definitely Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo, Sacred Bamboo) same family as for our Berberis - Berberidaceae. This is a 'straight' species and has no cultivars with any sort of irregular variagation. Has nice clusters of small white flowers followed by a mass of crimson red berries. Normally grows well in pots/containers. Bear in mind soil in containers becomes stale and vaulnerable to contaminates. I think Lori is also on the right lines. Normally, like your neighbour suggests, I would say repot in the Autumn but in this case the sooner the better the plant is clearly stressed and may not last to the Autumn unless you follow my suggested solution. Best of luck.

Pity it isn't a variegated cultivar, I like it as it is.
However, I do agree, the plant's stress must be as short-lived as possible. I wish it well and look forward to seeing it in much better health.