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any ideas what this may be? Also from time to time it hesitates when i put my foot down. any ideas on that aswell?

When I had the same diesal like start up sound it was because of the heatshield on the centre box on the exaust rattling, think its happened to quite a a few people, might be worth doing a search.

As for the hesitation, to start you off is the throttle body clean and how old are the spark plugs and leads ?

mine does the same mate, to me it sounds like the starter motor solenoid is sticking, and the small starting sprocket (the bit that cranks the flywheel) is staying out too long.