ah ok – so a week ago it flagged up an E22 (I think) error which I determined to be that the long tank up the side had got clogged – my wife washed a new angora jumper that shedded half its weight in wool and fluff in the machine. I wonder if this is linked? Although, to be fair, this is about 12 years old now, so could be general wear and tear.
Would removing the motor and fan at the top in the evaporator/condenser and giving them a good spray of contact clear be worth a go?