Can someone explain what this lot means and what I should do about it please.

W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org testing/non-US/main Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_testing_non-US_main_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org testing/non-US/contrib Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_testing_non-US_contrib_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org testing/non-US/non-free Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_testing_non-US_non-free_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org unstable/non-US/main Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_unstable_non-US_main_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org unstable/non-US/contrib Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_unstable_non-US_contrib_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)
W: Couldn't stat source package list ftp://non-us.debian.org unstable/non-US/non-free Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/non-us.debian.org_debian-non-US_dists_unstable_non-US_non-free_binary-i386_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)

Snowy

Simple the non-us is obsolete. Take the non-us part off of your sources.lists and all will be well.

Try something like:
# Testing Etch
deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free
# Testing Sources
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ testing main contrib non-free
# Security Updates Testing
deb http://security.debian.org/ testing/updates main contrib non-free

# Unstable Sid
deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free
# Unstable Sources
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free

or a mirror closer to where you live.

Thanks but do you think you could spell it out for me please?

I have no idea what you mean when you say 'Try something like this'.

Just to prove I couldn't work it out for myself, I typed in what you suggested into the root console but I just got an error message.

Snowy

open up synaptic and goto settings>repositories

uncheck all repositories with non-us in the address

Yes thanks, did that.

What are repositories for?

A repository (or data repository) is an Internet site that maintains and distributes a collection of software packages. A Linux distro such as MEPIS uses APT to download and install software from repositories.

The Debian project keeps a central repository of over 15,000 software packages ready for download and installation. In addition, any number of additional repositories listed in /etc/apt/sources.list can be queried by apt for their own different packages. You can find other sources at www.apt-get.org

You can edit your sources.list/repositories by using apt-setup in a terminal or using a text editor to open /etc/apt/sources.list , you can also edit it in Synaptic.

Thanks.

Snowy