Its a blue sow thistle. I collected some seed a few years ago and keep meaning to plant them although I'm not sure if they are still viable after all this time. Beautiful blue.

Hi Cam! Thanks for replying. Been on my travels with work so just catching up :-) Not convinced I've taken a good enough photo of the leaves because I've looked up blue sow thistle and whilst the flowers look similar none of the leaves look anything like the ones on the plant up the road which resemble dock leaves/red shank. Also when it goes to seed it doesn't have the dandelion like seed clocks that the BST seems to sport. But blue sow thistle is a very lovely plant!

try wild chicory.

Hi Seaburngirl. Thanks for the tip - looked at dozens of images of wild chicory and the flowers/branching habit are spot on but still not convinced about the leaves! Tempted to have a taste as the leaves are well above height at which dog could cock its leg ha ha! Perhaps I need to take a better pic of the leaves as they def look like dock leaves/red shank before it goes red if you know what I mean :-)