i wish i got that :(

it used to be that pixels would give you a better picture but sensor technology has moved on alot recently. try to stick to 6mp or less as they generaly have less nosie than 7 or 8mp camera because they have less photosites on the sensor (all point and click sensors are roughly the same size).

what you get for the money is usually a trade off. longer reach with IS but less pixels. or you get a 3 or 4 times zoom but 6mp. like wise really wide lenses generally don't reach as far. you want something that has the 35mm equvilent of around 28mm up to at least 105mm.

http://www.dpreview.com

Any of these any good?

http://www.comet.co.uk/comet/html/cache/615_300136.html
http://www.comet.co.uk/comet/html/cache/615_262790.html

The more pixels the bigger the picture.
Overall quality isn't necessarily linked to pixels either.
Tesco have a 5mp camera for 50 quid atm. I wouldn't buy it.
I'm not sure about the ins and outs of lenses although a better quality lense will give you a better qulity picture.
I'm sure ross or Ian will be able to give you a more in depth answer though.

Mega pixels in camera terms, does it affect the size of the picture or the overall quality. Ive seen some fairly decent camera at about 300 pound with big fancy lenses on but tend to be around 4 mega pixel which is less then my cheaper camera without a lense. What will the lense actually do for me anyway? My camera phone focuses automatically really well, my camera sucks as fair as getting perspective is concerned.