Hi Helen, I'm probably not the best person to advise you as I am a new labrador owner myself, and don't know too much, but when we decided to get a labrador, I read up on the subject and as everyone says on here, it is important to find a reputable breeder.
What I did was contact the Kent, Surrey and Sussex labrador club, and they put me in touch with some reputable breeders that were members and who were due to have/had pupies. I'm not sure what the equivilent club would be for you, but I have copied here a list of phone numbers from
http://members.aol.com/summersbrook/ This is a breeders home page that I have found very useful and informative on a host of different things.
Also the breeder should ask you more questions than you ask her, the breeder we got Jessie from was very clear that we could come down and meet her, but she was very particular about who she would allow her puppies to go to, so she asked us LOADS of questions, spent time getting to know us and our children, watching how our children were with the puppies and older dogs. It was almost like a job interview, no subkect was off limits, what our lifestyle was like, our knowledge and attitude towards training etc etc. It was definately worth it as Jessie is (in my opinion

) the most beautiful puppy, with a wonderful loving playful temperament.
Hope this is of some help. Please let me know how you get on.
Salena
For a breeder near you....ask the secretary of your local breed club.
The first two operate nationwide - the others are regional.
There’s no difference in the quality of service. They’ll all help you find a good breeder.
The Labrador Retriever Club ....... Mrs H Wiles-Fone............01296 - 641498
The Yellow Labrador Club ........... Mrs M Allen .....................01300 - 321381
Northern Ireland .......................... Mrs CF Doherty ...............02892 - 639264
Scotland ........................................ Mrs AM Pollock ...............01563 - 820270
Wales.............................................. Mrs J Povall .....................01633 - 422638
Cotswold and Wyevern ................. Mrs JA Cook ....................01905 - 423942
East Anglia ................................... Mrs J Cole ........................01354 - 680375
Kent, Surrey and Sussex ............... Mrs J Minns......................02083 - 007999
Midland Counties ......................... Mrs J Allen...................... 01733 - 222643
Northumberland and Durham ..... Mr PA Smith .................. 01642 - 292965
North West .................................... Mrs SM Saunt ..................01942 - 212280
Three Ridings ............................... Mr JD Jackson..................01924 - 848743
West of England ........................... Mrs C Mills .......................01458 - 833158