Rover 214 starting problems?

My girlfriends rover 214 has an intermitant starting problem. Turning the key nothing happens at all (all lights on the dash light up ok and no other problems), turn it back one notch and turn again and it fires (this may take a few attempts (up to five times some of the time) The car has recently been serviced so all that is good too. I am good mechanically wise but not really electically. Any thoughts of what I could look into to fix the problem ignition coil or barrell? ???? Cheers Aaron