Gossypium hirsutum is what it looks like. ie Cotton

Thanks Owdboggy, cotton or kapok was my first thought but after trawling through internet images of both, none had the same flower and leaf combination. The feathery inside felt so soft and silky, almost like microfibre in duvets and pillows but that's a synthetic surely?

Check this plant out then
Gomphocarpus physocarpus.

I know this as Gomphocarpus fruticosus (sometimes also known as Ascelpias f.). It can be invasive because the balls are full of seeds that are like dandylions. All parts are filled with sticky latex, which makes deadheading difficult. When I have had it, it was an annual. It even played host to a monarch butterfly caterpillar once.

Hi, the leaves look wrong to me for Gossypium hirsutum, I think it might be Gomphocarpus physocarpus, common name balloon plant, cotton bush, plus others, Derek.

I really must learn to type faster, there were only 2 comments when I started, :-) Derek

Lol Derek!

Thank you guys it is Gomphocarpus! Just checked the images. I love this site, your comments always make me smile. And Derek, it takes me a long time to type too! Remember, we are gardeners, not typists!

Hi Roslil, I was beginning to type a little bit faster on my lap top, until it died on me, thought I'd try an ipad, I have quite large hands, and a VERY small keyboard now :-), Derek.

Have you thought about voice recognition software Derek?

Derek if you turn the iPad so that it is landscape you'll find the keys are bigger. You can also buy a proper keyboard that can be attached to the iPad.

Is the ref to landscape intentionally for gardeners?

Nope Urbanite landscape is when you have the screen of your iPad wide rather than tall.

Hi Mg, thanks for that, unfortunately, that's the way I always have it, and it's still very small, even my little finger is wider than the letters, so I just have to use 1 fingertip at a time, :-) Derek.

Hi Scottish, nice idea, but I'm not that into all that technical stuff,:-),
sometimes I press something,{don't know what}, and a message comes up, talk to google, I get out of there as quickly as I can, Derek.

Derek - moving completely away from plants you might get on better with your ipad if you use a stylus, you can get the foam tipped sort for not a lot.

Hi Urbanite, good idea, thanks for that, Derek.

I went out to the area I had this in last year and found 7 plants that came up on their own. It is such a different plant when the seed pods form that I let it grow; but I don't always get them cut off in time so the cycle continues.