Can anyone help ? My clutch pedal sticks to the floor and won't change gear.

I bought a 2008 2.0 Diesel X Type estate last week that's done 120k miles.
Test driving it I noticed the clutch pedal was stiff compared to the x type I had before but the engine was quiet and smooth, as was the ride, so I didn't think much of it.
Yesterday on way home I put it into first and lifted my foot but the clutch stayed on the floor. I pulled it up with my foot and the next junction it did it again. The rest of the way home it was fine. I checked the fluid level and the reservoir was full at the max line.
Today I drove it to work and the problem got a lot worse, quickly.
It now sticks to the floor when using first and second gears and with the pedal pushed into the floor it's not enough to disengage the clutch meaning a few times it stalled when braking to stop at a junction because I couldn't take it out of gear and the clutch pedal was stuck down.
Checked the fluid level again and this time the level is half way between max and min. No signs of a leak although with the tray under the engine compartment it would have to be a big leak to make it out onto the road.
Is this a cheap master cylinder, more expensive slave cylinder or could it be something a lot worse ?
I'm trying to get in touch with the seller but it was a private sale so I'm not holding my breath.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hi Chris, sounds like the slave cylinder has gone. Happened to me a couple of years ago but I also had the dreaded rattle so I replace the clutch/Slave and DMF. When the cluthc was removed it was found that the return spring had broken into three pieces. The clutch itself was still good and the DMF was not that bad but did have movement where it shouldn't. So sounds similar.
You have to take the gearbox down to replace the slave so it is uneconomic not to change the lot.

Roger

 

Thanks Rchiv. It's being picked up tomorrow so this time tomorrow I should know what the problem was.

 

Please keep us updated.

Roger

 

The seller picked up my car and got it fixed for me. Very nice of them as although technically trade they were essentially a private seller. They ended up doing £1000 of work on it so I was very lucky. According to the seller when he returned the car to me it was the Master Cylinder but it was difficult to get to and they had to take the gearbox off so they changed everything while they had it off. I've no idea where the master cyclinder is but from what I've read I suspect they are mistaken and it was the slave cylinder that had gone as I believe the master cylinder is fairly straightforward to change without taking the gearbox off. Sounds like Roger had it pretty much spot on.