UK Car Repair: Renault 5 turbo, renault 5, fuel pump

Question
can you help me please i have a renault 5 gt turbo sometimes it starts no problem but after a little while it idles lumpy then cuts out when i try and turn it over again the fuel pump makes a whirring noise and the smell of petrol please help im dying to get this bk on the road but dont want to spend money unless i know its the pump thank you

Answer
It sounds as though it is starved for petrol, the whirring noise is typical of a pump that is running dry.  The smell though confuses me, as, if there is no petrol, how can there be a smell?  One thought is that the pump action may be causing turbulence in the tank!  In any event, when did you last change the petrol filter, I would check that first.