I have been told that there is a website which will inform me of the exact layout of the sky at night for any particular date, and that it is updated daily. My area is the Northwest of England (but of course that should be irrelevant, as such a website will presumably cover the whole planet in this way).

Any information will be gratefully received...

Here you are Ritz, just set it for the nearest city.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

Jenny, you're a star yourself! Thanks for that (but I might have known that you would have known; I could have asked you tomorrow!)
Thanks again, Ritz. (x)...