Knocking/grinding noise from front of the car.

Hi Guys,

Our Octavia VRS TFSI has just developed a couple of decidedly worrying noises.

The first is a grinding/scraping sound. It seems to be at the frequency of the rotation of the road wheels (although it's hard to be certain) and is about 1/4 noise, 3/4 silence. It's most pronounced at low speed (<10mph).

The second is a fairly loud knocking noise which can happen both while moving with the clutch up and while stationary with the engine at idle (and possibly at other times as well, I don't know). I think I can feel a faint vibration through the car at the same frequency as the knock, but that might just be my imagination.

Both are intermittent; both are quite loud; and both happened for the first time today, so I strongly suspect they have the same root cause.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to what could cause a noise both rolling with the engine off, and stationary with the engine idling. Any ideas?