I have a sore throat which has got much worse this morning. looked down my throat and saw a red lump hanging next to the epiglottis which is very red ?

Uvula: That is a uvula and it is inflamed due to an infection. Statistically it's a viral infection which may or may not result in a head cold. At this time treatment consists only of gargling with warm salt water and sucking on throat lozenges. If symptoms worsen instead of slowly improving, your physician can order a rapid throat culture to check for strep which requires antibiotic treatment.