Thanks, Both
Started up today to check exhaust system as Art suggested, and noise had gone! - Mixed blessing, as sporadic faults are the worst, as I hardly need say. There's no smell of petrol around the bike, but I'll check carefully - there was some spillage when I tipped the bike, which I assumed was because it was filled up 2 miles before. To answer jm2, it's done nearly 26K miles.
Thanks again: no doubt, like Arnie, I'll be back.