If anyone's interested, it looks like I'll need to recable.
Best way to do this, I'm told, is to tie new cable to old and pull through from loft, removing old cable and pulling new into place.
Just spent about 5 days sticking wet wall round the sink and 80 pounds on a lovely chrome over mirror light. But alas no earth wire sticking out the wall and the light fitting instructions say 'must be earthed'. Any magic solutions out there?