Thank you for the responses, I've been tied up with Christmas stuff so I'm sorry for the delay.
FullOppositeRudder, the answers to your questions are:-
Wireless right now but have used wired.
All have been connected by USB.
Yes and Yes.
Yes and the problem occurs the same with even the most basic mouse.
Sorry, not sure because I don't know how to check if previous drivers are still there. The previous owner, I believe, used only a straightforward two button and wheel cable mouse which I still have. It does the same. I can't ask the previous owner because he has dropped off this mortal coil and joined the choir eternal.
Hellsbrink, thank you but I think that your probably very good ideas are above my paygrade! Mind you, as mentioned above, if I knew how to trace the already installed mouse drivers then I would have somewhere to start..... My talents lie elsewhere.