Thanks. I am in the process of sanding it down. I gave it a really good clean with Goof Off again and a bit of a sand (almost a wet sand with Goof Off :-) ). That didn't work so I am sanding the whole lot with a view to spraying a transparent lacquer over it instead. I will give your suggestion a go first though to see how it works out.
I have been using lots of paper towel to apply stain. I have seen enough people on Youtube doing it that way to know it probably works. It is easily disposable. The only think is that the rubbing wears it out pretty quickly