Re: smeg dishwasher error e1, I like washing up anyway
Here is the answer that I found, and thanks very much for your help.
I took the front bottom panel off and found that the float switch which presumably controls the drain pump was quite flooded although not enough for any water to drip on the floor. so I dried it with a bit of kitchen roll and the machine was fine.
This must have been causing the leak error code and stopping the inlet valve from working, and causing the pump to run continuously. No idea what the cause was or whether it will return, but the machine has worked fine for 2 weeks now.
very good forum.