Mini wont start

[mac]

Mini wont start.

I have a 1994 Mini 1.3i.
Today I took it for a run. I has been lying up for a couple of weeks. It started ok but spluttered a bit. It seemed to be misfiring or something. Then it started to lose power and would take a long time to pick up any speed. Then there was a warning bleep in the car for a while and then it died.
I rang my mechanic who came promptly and towed me back to his garage. He is not well up on mini's. He said it was getting petrol and had a spark but the plugs were dry. He threw some petrol down the throttle body but to no avail.
Does anyone know what the warning sound was about?
Is it to do with sensors or the cat?
It had been going fine up till now
Heres hoping for a solution as we are baffled
Mac

[keith]

whereabouts are you?

[mac]

I'm in Mountmellick Co. Laois

[mac]

I am still wondering what the continous bleep from the dashboard was just before the engine died