Hotpoint WMA13P Door Not Locking

This m/c has three lights on front (Active, Door Locked, Prog End) and mechanical programme selector. Its about 3 yrs old.

Normal operation: close door, select program press go button, Prog End light goes out, Active Light comes on, Door Locked light comes on, machine starts.

The other day it made an audiable cracking sound, mercifully right at the end of a cycle. After this, Door Locked light flashes instead of coming on and, guess what, the door is not locked. M/c will therefore not start cycle.

Gambled a few bob on buying a new door lock component from eSpares. No joy. Dissassembled front pannel to find evidence of burning on control board. In fact there is soot and a patch of what looks like vapourised copper on the inside of the front cover!

Options:

1) Call out an independent repairer. Are you guys able to fault find and fix at component level or might i need a complete new control board at a cost of 80 plus quid – if available – plus call out charge?

2) If someone out their agrees that it is probably the control board and it will need replacing, should I:

a) Bung Hotpoint 100 quid for a fix (still under 5 year parts guarantee)
b) Bung Hotpoint 150 quid for a fix, free parts and a 12 month warranty so I am covered if the bearings go etc.

3) Am I barking up the wrong tree and something else is wrong with it?

Apart from this the thing is standing up well to familly life and doesn’t owe me any favours. I really don’t want to replace it.

Most grateful for any thoughts?

Nick.