blitz imp reza

Got a noisy rumbling bearing noise on my engine at the mo, seems to be coming from the water pump area. Is it likely to be the pump knackered, common problem on the early imprezas (my 96 uk, 116k)?
Or is it wishfull thinking and more serious, dreaded bottom end starting.
I know it's difficult to say without hearing it for yourself just seing if it is a problem that other people have had.
The noise has been there for a while thought it was my up-pipe heatsheild a while back but confirmed it was not, it has got louder recently so tried to investigate/locate it sunday.
I am tempted to change the coolant pump (£65 from GG) but think I will have to change the cam belt at the same time so want to be sure, saying that do the cambelt tensioners get noisy on these????

Probably going to have to book it in at the garage to confirm though