have i got a problem ? vauxhall corsa club 1.2 16v year 2002?

having just recently bought this car i am rather puzzled by a ticking noise which is audible slightly from inside the car. being a diy service & easy repair man only, i wonderd if this could be any thing of a serious fault or not, as to my novice ear i would have said it was a broken piston ring ? .it has done the average milage for the year [32000] can anyone give me any idea please. many thanks bazz