can someone tell me what to do to bleed the brakes and get rid of excess air in the system and what fluid to use.

cheers

It is easier with two people, one in the drivers seat, one at the brakes

Start with the back brakes

If you can, put a small clear tube on brake bleeder, so you can catch brake fluid that is expelled into a jar or something.
One person loosens brake bleeder - other person pushes pedal down slowly
With the pedal down the bleeder is then closed, then the pedal is raised.
Repeat until steady clean flow of fluid (no air) is seen

Do same for each brake caliper, remember to constantly check master cylinder fluid level, if this drops too low you will suck air into system, and have to start all over again.

few tips to is to once the new fluid is coming through, close the nipple and push the pedal down a few times, and then hold it, then open the nipple let a little bt of fluid through. do that about three times. does help. also if its a older car good i dear to not push the pedal all the way to the floor as the piston in the master cylinder usually wont got that far and there could be dirt in there that will damage the "o" rings and then it wont hold pressure.
if there is air in there and u have a abs system is also a good idear to bleed the abs unit which i dont know about fords but usually have to connect it to a diagnosis machine and do it.

righto thanks guys,
the general consences im getting is that there should always be fluid in the system i.e when draining old fluid put new fluid in at the top?
its for a 94 fairlane with ABS,what fluid to use they all the same or are there better ones?
cheers

just drop a good quality dot 4 in there.