I believe it to be a native voilet Bernard, I have it my own garden, it seeds readily around and can become quite a nuisance, a weed really is a plant in the wrong place so its really up to the individual how you see it, but I would say if you don't particularly like it, dig it up!

I agree with Dido our little native violet... we do allow some to grow but dig out far more.

quite a lot of people seem to have them this year who've not had them before I understand

Yes, it is our native violet - I get them in my lawn too and it makes me very sad to have to mow them down. I have actually dug some up from the lawn and planted them in a border.

A weed is in the eye of the beholder. The native violet is a pretty little plant but it can be a nuisance if it is not controled.
When I read that you had thought that it might be a cyclamen, Bernard, I thought 'Ahh, celandine' as this was one of my early mis- observations. The I scrolled down to the picture.

It is a terrible thug that grows everywhere in my garden and takes ages to weed out as even the tiniest seedling has a root to the Antipodes.

This is wonderful. You are so generous with your replies. I have quite a few of these questions in the pipeline and I hope I won't try your patience. There seem to be two varieties of this plant. Does anyone know whether it is V. odorata or V. riviana?

The one you have pictures is most likely Viola riviniana.

Thanks Owdboggy.