function validateContactForm(){
		
	var punter = document.getElementById('punter');
	var email = document.getElementById('email');
	var enquiry = document.getElementById('enquiry');
	// check the inputs  (main function nav)
	if (alphaField(punter, "mand", "name.")) {
		if(emailField(email, "mand", "email address.")) {
			if(alphaNumField(enquiry, "mand", "enquiry details so we can route your request and respond accordingly.")) {
				return true;
			}
		}
	}
	return false;
}

// function for checking alpha-only text fields
function alphaField(element, which, fieldDesc) {
	var alphaExp = /^[-a-zA-Z ']+$/;
	if ((which == 'mand') && (element.value.length < 2)) {
		var shortStub = 'Please enter your ';
		alert(shortStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus(); // set the focus to this input
		return false;	
	} else if ((element.value.length > 1) && (!element.value.match(alphaExp))) {
	var wrongStub = 'Please enter only letters for your ';
		alert(wrongStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus();
		return false;
	} else {
		return true;
	}
}
	
// function for checking alphanumeric text fields
function alphaNumField(element, which, fieldDesc) {
	var alphaNumExp = /^[-0-9a-zA-Z' /]+$/;
	if ((which == 'mand') && (element.value.length < 2)) {
		var shortStub = 'Please enter your ';
		alert(shortStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus(); // set the focus to this input
		return false;
	}else {
		return true;
	}
}
	
// function for checking dropdown fields
function selectField(element, which, message){
	if ((which == 'mand') && (element.value == '')) {
		alert(message);
		element.focus();
		return false;
	}else{
		return true;
	}
}

// function for checking post and zip code fields (needs letters for uk and nz)
function postCodeField(element, which, fieldDesc) {
	var alphaNumExp = /^[0-9a-zA-Z]+$/;
	if ((which == 'mand') && (element.value.length < 4)) {
		var shortStub = 'Please enter your ';
		alert(shortStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus(); // set the focus to this input
		return false;
	} else if ((element.value.length > 1) && (!element.value.match(alphaNumExp))) {
		var wrongStub = 'Please enter only letters and numbers for your ';
		alert(wrongStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus();
		return false;
	} else {
		return true;
	}  
}
	
// function for checking  telephone number fields. we allow numbers and spaces.
function PhoneField(element, which, fieldDesc) {
	var NumExp = /^[- 0-9]+$/;
	if ((which == 'mand') && (element.value.length < 7)) {
		var shortStub = 'Please enter your ';
		alert(shortStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus(); // set the focus to this input
		return false;
	} else if ((element.value.length > 1) && (!element.value.match(NumExp))) {
	var wrongStub = 'Please enter only numbers for your ';
		alert(wrongStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus();
		return false;
	}else {
		return true;
	}
}

// function for quickly checking email format (check again on server side)	
function emailField(element, which, fieldDesc){
	var emailExp = /^[\w\-\.\+]+\@[a-zA-Z0-9\.\-]+\.[a-zA-z0-9]{2,4}$/;
	if ((which == 'mand') && (element.value.length < 6)) {
		var shortStub = 'Please enter your ';
		alert(shortStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus(); // set the focus to this input
		return false;
	} else if (element.value.match(emailExp)) {
		return true;
	} else {
		var wrongStub = 'Please check the format of your ';
		alert(wrongStub + fieldDesc);
		element.focus();
		return false;
	}
}