how do i know if i have actually got the new edition of avast pro?, which just cost me £26, thought i had installed it ok, licence key etc, but when on About Avast, only says…avast! version 4.8 home edition- free antivirus??? and mentions 60 days free trial???
Hi bloody confused, welcome to the forum 
Lets try and get rid of that confusion shall we 
When you download avast! it installs as a trial version, and then you enter the license key, which activates it to a full installation.
So, have you received your license key via email?
-Scott-
How to insert activation key http://www.avast.com/files/tutorials/insert_key.htm
avast! User Guides and Manuals http://www.avast.com/eng/download-user-guides-and-manual.html
avast! 4 FAQs http://www.avast.com/eng/faq-avast-4-home-professional.html
Without wishing to be overly alarmist, if you paid money and got the free version, it sounds like a scam.
avast! Professional is freely downloadable as a 60-day trial from the links on this page.
Install and try it before spending any money.