Thank you both for your answers.  The finger over the lens didn't work for me but I have found out since posting, my device comes without a button or icon to start the camera which to me seems very strange indeed.  Why on earth put a camera on the device and not be able to use it.  However, I have discovered that I was able to download an app called "Camera Starter" from the app store.  Puts an icon on the screen and the camera fires up perfectly.

How cool is that?

Eglwyseg.