In article <4e12oq$abh@newsgate.dircon.co.uk>, gpramsey@dircon.co.uk says... (...)

>Hmmm... On closer inpection the new lens appears to have a bit of
>dust within the lens - If I look through the top of the lens and hold
>the bit that connects to the camera toward a light I can see a bit of
>dust - *arrrrrg* Am I being too picky - Is it usual for a _bit_ of
>dust to be present??? (..)

Yes - many lenses have at least a few small bits of dust, especially
if they are a few years old. Try not to worry too much about it -
a bit of dust has no practical effect on the image.
Hope This Helps