please could anyone recommend to me equipment for making reasonable-quality recordings of a chanter on to a computer - i am based in the uk and was thinking that maplins might be the place to go to
Audacity software is good, particularly as it’s free. I’ve used a Samson condenser USB mic (it plugs directly into the USB port).
x2 on Audacity, good stuff. 
x2 on samson mics, not tried the USBb but I have 2of their standard mics.
I use a Samson USB mike with Audacity…very impressed with the results.
This Samson??: http://tinyurl.com/42tl97u
That’s the mic I use (although I don’t have the diaphragm or hard case).
To me, the easiest way to get a recording on my computer is to use a Zoom H4n (us$300). I make the recording, and then stick the CF card into the slot. It can function as a USB mic, too. There are a variety of advantages to a recorder, such as being able to take it into a different room (like one where there isn’t a noisy computer running!).
The Zoom H1 is a lot less expensive (us$90), and gets good marks from people who use it, but it will not function as a USB mic. If you get any of the portable recorders, you can also take it to a session or a workshop.
I do have a selection of studio condensers and a mixer and they do make better recordings if I take my time to set them up, but most of the time it’s not necessary.
Audacity works pretty well for basic stuff (and even some advanced stuff), but if you end up doing a lot of editing, I find Adobe Audition to be easier and faster for many tasks. It just has a better interface. There are other editing packages out there as well.