Merge pull request #180 from wtsi-npg/devel

pull request from wtsi devel to master to create release 77.4
Merge pull request #183 from wtsi-npg/devel

pull request from wtsi devel to master to create release 77.5
Merge pull request #185 from wtsi-npg/devel

pull from wtsi devel to master to create release 77.6
Merge pull request #186 from wtsi-npg/master

pull from wtsi master to devel