Went out a few days ago and my td4 would not start - engine turning over and fuel pump making usual noise. I tried for 10 mins until the battery was almost flat and then nicked the wifes car.

The AA arrived and could not start it and tried to get it going with a tow - the engine would fire but die if you put the clutch in

Put on a low loader and delivered to my local landrover specialist who did leak back test and all injectors seemed ok as did the fuel pump

He then put a charger on the battery and it fired up first turn of the key and has been ok all day

Any idea what could be causing this

a good place to start would be , cam shaft sensor problem , quite a common defect, the sensor is only required for starting ,

Should have said it was a cold start - started ok yesterday when warm a good five or six times

The garage i use are very good and dont like throwing parts at a car so he wants me to use it until it fails to start again then he will change the sensor - it started first go at the garage after being dropped off by the AA