Can't get past login screen following software update

I've been using Leopard on my Mini for months quite happily and when last night the Apple software update window popped up I let it install as I have always done without a problem.
My machine re-booted, went through installing the two updates and when it had finished re-booted again. Problem is I can't get past the login screen, the process goes like this...
Switch on --> Grey screen with apple logo and swirly --> Wallpaper appears --> login window --> enter password --> login window says 'logging in' and dissapears --> Blue screen appears --> login window appears again.
I've tried a safe-mode boot (hold down shift at boot) - no difference. I've tried single user mode (cmd + S) - no difference. I've even tried booting from the leopard install DVD (hold down C at boot) but my mac just ignores all this and goes through the process outlined above.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Are you using a wireless keyboard? Those commands may not work if the operating system loads before the keyboard driver.
If you have a wired keyboard, try holding down the option key at startup to show all the bootable drives, including the install disk. Then after booting from the install disk use Disk Utilities from the Utilities menu to do a Repair Disk and Repair Permissions.
If you can boot into Safe-Mode, 10.5.6 is supposed to clear up some known issues after a reboot. See this MacWorld article:
http://www.macworld.com/article/137764/2008/12/osx1056_bugsandfixes.html?lsrc=mw week

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