VM email password

I have been using a Virginmedia email for years with no problem.  My emails were collected by my client (EM-client) until a month or so ago when suddenly the client reported that it could not connect to the VM servers possibly because of an incorrect password.

I have changed my password but I think that this relates to the VM password and not necessarily to email.

1. I can access the VM app on line  without entering the new password on my PC and I can access it from other PCs by using the password. 
2. Once in the VM app, I can click into my email (without using any password) from which I can receive and send emails
3. My client cannot access my emails using the VM password 
4. Presumably I need to tell my client a separate password just for my emails
5. I don't have any record of a password for my email (ie I don't know what it is)
6. Presumably then I need to change the email only password to something that I will remember and then pass this on to my email client
7. Am I reading the situation correctly and if so how do I generate a password for my emails that I can give to my client in order for it to collect my emails.
8. I have spent hours reading and following instructions ( both within VM blurb and independent suggestions)  as to how to change an email password but non seem to relate to my  situation as non of the settings that I have  offer the option.
9. I have several other emails for which I use my client and all that I simply do is supply the client with my email addresses and  relevant passwords (and possibly port numbers).  It used to be that way with VM.
10. One problem is that I normally work with my email client open but I constantly get annoying warnings from the client flashing up on the screen that it is unable to access the VM server with information (email address and password) provided 
11. I would remove my VM email from the client but in doing so, I would loose my email file structure and most emails on the client  as VM was my default email - I have changed my default email now but there is too much history to loose.

Any sensible suggestions would be very gratefully received 

Thanks