No it didn't have a wooden one, it's a '97 too. It used to be a police vehicle for a short time so it's got up-rated this and that. Thanks for all your helpful comments..I phoned Charles whom I'm going to see tomorrow.

...and on looking at the diagram it looks like I could get a wheel and bolt it straight in the threaded hole at the top of the shaft, but I guess you can't get at it cos of the airbag..bloody airbags...bloody thieves...rant rant

Thanks Saint.V8, that's very helpful, esp the diagram. As I said there's no damage, it's almost as if they just wanted the steering wheel!..and having found that they cost about £150 even from a scrap yard maybe they did! By the way we're in South Cheshire so if anyone knows somewhere I can...

Thieves and/or vandals have tried to break the steering lock off my P38A and only succeeded in breaking off the steering wheel! (which they took). Visible is the splined shaft in the centre of the column with a centre hole threaded on the inside. There is no other damage to the column. Is it...